Tax trial: Ronaldo to appear in court on Monday

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Madrid, where his trial for alleged tax fraud will begin on Monday.

Ronaldo stands accused of evading €14.7m in tax on his image rights between 2011 and 2015, and the Real Madrid superstar has been summoned to a court in the capital municipality of Pozuelo de Alarcon at 11:30 CET (10:30 BST).

Mundo Deportivo reports the 32-year-old will be represented by lawyers from Baker & McKenzie.

Furthermore, the hearing will be behind closed doors, despite the Superior Court of Justice in Spain receiving over 150 applications for coverage from almost 50 media outlets in 16 countries.

Ronaldo’s legal troubles were understood to have prompted his ‘irreversible decision’ to leave Los Blancos.

However, he remains a Madrid player and the trial is not expected to hinder his return to training on August 5, three days before facing former club Manchester United in the European Super Cup.