Cristiano Ronaldo will be back with Real Madrid on Saturday and Zinedine Zidane hopes that will bring a close to questions over the Portugal star’s tax fraud case.
Prosecutors allege the 32-year-old, who denies any wrongdoing, has evaded €14.7million in taxes relating to his image rights between 2011 and 2014.
Ronaldo opted not to speak to reporters after making a court appearance in Madrid over the case on Monday.
Instead, Inaki Torres of his management company Gestifute spoke on his behalf, insisting “everything is in order” with the proceedings.
Ronaldo is yet to join up with Madrid for their pre-season preparations due to his involvement in the Confederations Cup with Portugal in Russia.
Madrid face MLS All-Stars to conclude their tour of the United States before returning to Europe to prepare for their Super Cup meeting with Ronaldo’s former club Manchester United in Skopje next Tuesday.
“If he had spoken, there would also be comments. The important thing is what he said to me. He is on holiday and he’s calm,” Zidane told a media conference.
“He’ll be with us on the fifth [of August] and I hope that, after that day, this topic is closed.
“I don’t believe these things hurt him. He’s happy because it’s over. Now he’s calm about the topic of football, he wants to play and he’ll be with us on the fifth.”
