The company has threatened to sue a consortium of
newspapers that claims the likes of the Real Madrid star, Jose Mourinho
and Mesut Ozil dodged tax obligations
Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho are "fully compliant with their
tax obligations", their agent Jorge Mendes' company has insisted, amid
allegations of tax evasion against the pair.
A consortium of 12 European newspapers has said it will publish the
findings of what is described as "the largest leak in the history of
sport" under the banner 'Football Leaks' over the next three weeks.
As part of that leak, several media outlets have alleged that Real
Madrid superstar Ronaldo and Manchester United manager Mourinho avoided
taxes using tax havens through structures set up by Mendes' company,
Gestifute.
According to the report, the Portugal international has allegedly
evaded €150 million in taxes since 2009, prior to his arrival at
Madrid.
He is accused of using companies based in the British Virgin Islands
tax haven to avoid tax obligations related to image rights, with Road
Town-registered Tollin Associates looking after €74.8m in revenue over
the first six years.
In 2015, it is claimed, Ronaldo's image rights were purchased by two
further Caribbean enterprises until 2020, to administer a sum worth
another €75m.
Reports assert that the operations were carried out through Mint
Capital, a company linked with businessman and current Valencia
president Peter Lim, and directed to a Swiss bank account in the
player's name.
In total, Ronaldo allegedly paid just 4 per cent of his income to the
Spanish treasury, while an investigation into his financial affairs
opened in December 2015.
As well as the Madrid star, Mourinho and Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil
are named in the leaks as using similar measures to evade tax
obligations.
However, in a statement, Gestifute described the accusations as "unfounded".
The statement read: "Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho are
fully compliant with their tax obligations with the Spanish and British
tax authorities.
"Neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Jose Mourinho have ever been involved
in legal proceedings regarding the commission of a tax offense.
"Any insinuation or accusation made to Cristiano Ronaldo or Jose
Mourinho over the commission of a tax offense will be reported to the
legal authorities and prosecuted."
It added: "We always act with the highest level of professionalism in
our relationships with our clients and the authorities in all those
countries in which we operate.
"We will not hesitate to take legal action to defend ourselves and
our clients over any untrue and unlawful allegations published about
us."
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