Cristiano Ronaldo has been persuaded by his lawyers to pay the £12.9million he is accused of defrauding the Spanish tax authorities, according to reports in Madrid.
Reports in Spain claim Ronaldo has reluctantly agreed to pay the sum he is accused of having failed to declare in order to reduce any subsequent fines.
The reports have been contradicted by other sources close to the player who say he is still assessing his options ahead of a meeting with the Madrid judge Monica Gomez Ferrer on July 31.
Spanish prosecutors had filed a lawsuit against the player accusing him of defrauding tax authorities of €14.7 million by hiding his image rights income between 2011 and 2014. An allegation the Real Madrid player has denied.
However, according to Spanish public broadcaster TVE, the 32-year-old has decided to pay the sum as a gesture of goodwill.
If Ronaldo makes the payment it would not be an admission of guilt and he could still contest the Spanish public prosecutor’s allegations in court.
He could also still be fined and sentenced if he is found guilty. Although any prison term is likely to be shorter and anything under 21 months would not have to be served because it is his first offence.