Cristiano Ronaldo ‘decides to stay at Real Madrid’

Dubai: Cristiano Ronaldo has decided to stay at Real Madrid and is said to be excited by Los Blancos’ business in the transfer market, according to Spanish newspaper Diario AS.

A Bola, a newspaper in the striker’s native Portugal, had last month declared that the 32-year-old wanted to leave Spain, just days after he was accused by Spanish authorities of evading 14.7 million euros (Dh61.5 million) in tax.

The revelations sent shockwaves through world football with the four-time Ballon D’Or winner linked with moves to China, Paris Saint Germain and a return to former side Manchester United.

However, Diario AS reported on Sunday that Ronaldo has since “decided to remain” at the Santiago Bernabeu following the advice of his representatives, prompting the club to re-include him in their plans for the forthcoming season as the “cornerstone of their project”.

The Portuguese will testify in court on July 31 over the fraud accusations levelled against him.

Ronaldo has said his “conscience is clear” and the club issued a statement saying that they were “absolutely convinced” that the player “will prove his total innocence”.

Real Madrid club president Florentino Perez also said: “We are confident in him as a person and as a professional,” and “it is not acceptable that he is treated like a criminal.”

If found guilty, a prison sentence of between two and seven years has been mooted as a possibility — though it is highly unlikely he would serve time.

Real captain Sergio Ramos said he was “very calm” about the prospect of Ronaldo leaving.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca on Sunday, just as Diario AS were reporting Ronaldo would stay, Ramos said: “In that sense I am very calm.

“They are great players and hopefully they will be with us for years to come,” he said in reference to Ronaldo and fellow Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, who has also been linked with a move to Chelsea.

“We have made history, but our intention and goal is to make more history for this club.”

The record 12-time European champions, who sealed a La Liga and Uefa Champions League double last season, have bought French defender Theo Hernandez from Atletico Madrid for 26 million euros this summer, while letting veteran Portuguese defender Pepe join Turkey’s Besiktas on a free transfer.

Deals to offload Colombian midfielder James Rodriquez to Manchester United and bring in Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos from Real Betis are also expected to be imminently announced.