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Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, has reportedly agreed to accept a €18.8m (£16.4m) fine and a suspended jail term to settle tax evasion charges, BBC News reports.
The 33-year-old Portugal international was accused last year of defrauding tax authorities of €14.8m, charges he denies.
Ronaldo offered to pay €14m in June 2017 but the government rejected the offer, the El Mundo newspaper reported.
The news came before the World footballer of the year scored a hat-trick against Spain on Friday in the ongoing World Cup in Russia.
Spanish courts have recently cracked down on tax evasion among footballers.
Ronaldo is unlikely to serve any time in prison under the deal – reportedly a verbal one at this stage. Under Spanish law, a two-year sentence for a first offence can be served on probation, with no requirement for custody.
Any deal would have to be agreed to by Spain’s tax agency. It has accused the footballer of trying to hide money linked to image rights made between 2011 and 2014.
He denied the claims and his agency has yet to comment on the latest reports.