RONALDO SPARKS RUMOUR THAT HE MAYJOIN MAN UNITED
The 32-year-old is currently under investigation for tax fraud of around £15m
Cristiano Ronaldo has reignited talk of a return to the Premier League after telling a court in Madrid last week that he wanted to leave the Spanish champions, according to reports.
The Re a l Madrid r e c ord goalscorer appeared in court this week as part of the hearing into accusations of tax fraud worth
m by using three off- shore companies based in the British Virgin Islands.
He is reported to have claimed he had actually paid more tax than he should have since moving to the Spanish capital eight years ago.
The 32-year- old told teammates he wanted to leave Real at the start of the transfer window, sparking interest from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and former club Manchester United.
However, with a move to PSG now off the cards after the £200m signing of Neymar from Barcelona, the Portuguese captain is apparently trying to engineer a move back to England instead.
Ronaldo had a private hearing with judge Monica Gomez Ferrer on Monday and some of the details were leaked to the Spanish press.
Spanish radio station Cadena Ser reported that Ronaldo told the judge: “I never had a problem in England… that’s why I would like to go back to England”.
Ronaldo was furious when the al- legations of tax fraud were initially made against him earlier in the summer, with Portuguese daily
ABola reporting that he had made the “irreversible” decision to leave Spain as a consequence.
Real Madrid are working on a move for France teenager Kylian Mbappe from Monaco which could result in one of either Ronaldo, Gareth Bale or Karim Benzema being sold.
Spanish media also reported earlier in the week that Ronaldo argued with the judge during the behind-closed-doors hearing, saying: “If I wasn’t called Cristiano Ronaldo, I wouldn’t be sat here.”
But the judge denied that claim saying: “You are mistaken. Plenty of anonymous people have sat where you are.
“You are under investigation for an alleged financial crime based on the evidence provided and upon which it is my duty to make a ruling.”
PSG have announced the signing of Neymar from Barcelona in a world record £200m deal, with the Brazilian signing a five-year contract on more than £500,000-aweek after tax to become the world’s most expensive and highest paid player.
Real Madrid’s i nterest i n superstar teenager Kylian Mbappe i s maintaining Manchester United’s belief that they can still sign Gareth Bale this summer, with the club’s long- standing desire to bring him to Old Trafford receiving a boost this week, although David De Gea may need to be involved.
With Mbappe telling Monaco that he wants to leave the club, Real are growing increasingly confident that they can fend off competition to sign the 18-year-old striker this summer.
That could result in Bale heading for the exit in order to free up funds as well as move to a club where he would be guaranteed regular firstteam football, something that may not be the case if Mbappe arrives at the Bernabeu before the end of the transfer window.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa will hand in a formal transfer request after it was revealed there is no way back for him with the Premier League champions, and that he will only move to former club Atletico Madrid.
Newcastle are ready to ramp up their summer business with a move for Arsenal striker Lucas Perez, while Tottenham are still chasing their first signing of the window with interest in Genoa forward Giovanni Simeone, the son of Atletico manager Diego, increasing by the day. Alexis Sanchez has set Arsenal a target if 85 points this season in order to challenge for the Premier League title – and he’s going to help the Gunners achieve it, according to Arsene Wenger. Does this mean he›s staying...? The world’s most expensive player, Neymar, rejected claims that he has joined Paris Saint-Germain simply for the money that the Ligue 1 club offered him, insisting that he is excited about the challenge ahead to try and make them the biggest club in the world. THE INDEPENDENT