In the continuing investigation into Juventus’ financial transactions and transfers, Cristiano Ronaldo might be subject to questioning
In the current investigation of Juventus’ transfer and financial dealings by Italian authorities, Cristiano Ronaldo might be questioned.
Last Friday, police raided the offices of Milan and Turin club with evidence including invoices, player contracts and financial statements.
The allegations are that Juventus fraudulently recorded transfers’ values from 2019 to 2021 in order to be compliant with Financial Fair Play rules.
Italian officials took documents related to financial statements, transfers and invoices from six Juventus officials. This included club president Andrea Agnelli as well as vice-president Pavel Nedved.
Fabio Paratici is being investigated as well. He was previously Juve’s sporting directors before he took up the similar position with Tottenham. Already, the Italian football regulator COVISOC has opened an investigation. Consob is also investigating.
As Sportmail reported earlier this week, the £47million deal for Cristian Romero to Tottenham in August — the same day he left Juventus for Atalanta for just £13.5m — is one of 42 transfers being scrutinised by police amid claims of false accounting.
Last Friday, the club offices were raided with invoices, statements and contracts.
Now Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport has claimed the Turin Public Prosecutor could question Manchester United striker Ronaldo as part of the probe.
According to prosecutors, they are looking at a secret agreement Ronaldo had with Juventus in his time there. It could be related to either the salary that he delayed during the Covid-19 pandemics or the severance pay he got before he left for Old Trafford.
Italian reports claim that recordings have been made of telephone conversations in which directors from Juventus talk about a document “that should not theoretically exist” in relation to Ronaldo. However, investigators still need to locate the document.
According to reports, the Juventus directors that have been question by the prosecutors have failed to answer the nature and terms of the deal with Ronaldo (who scored 101 goals in just 134 games for the Italian giants).
To comply with FFP it is claimed Juventus falsifiedly reported the transfer value for two years.
It is believed that Ronaldo and the others want to discuss the matter with Ronaldo in the hopes of the forward clearing up the’secret agreement’. The agents at GestiFute Jorge Mendes are also considering calling Ronaldo back to Italy.
Other Juventus deals being probed include Manchester City’s £27.4m signing of Joao Cancelo two years ago.
Danilo was transferred in part-exchange. Another swap deal saw Miralem Pjanic, a Bosnian midfielder join Barcelona and Arthur Melo, a Brazilian midfielder move to Juventus.
According to a consumer rights group in Italy, Juventus may be relegated from Serie B to lose their 2020 title.
Ronaldo was a striker for the Italians, scoring 101 goals over 134 matches before he left for Manchester United.
Reports suggest that police are investigating profits grossing €50million (£42m) acquired in a 24-month spell.
Juventus would lose their Scudetto titles and be relegated into Serie B.
After a scandal involving phone hacking exposed the direct relationship between referees and club officials, the Italian giants were delegated to Italy’s second division.
While the 2005 title was not assigned, Inter Milan was awarded the trophy for 2006. Juventus was automatically placed in last place.
