Neymar testifies he had no involvement in negotiations over 2013 transfer to Barcelona
An investigation by the Catalan Civil Guard has charged one of the key figures in the negotiation of the 2013 transfers of Manchester United stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, plus Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, with trying to use illegal means to circumvent tax.
The first charge relates to Wayne Rooney, who has always denied wrongdoing over the 2013 transfer.
Manchester United manager David Moyes said on Wednesday that he had not had any direct contact with Ronaldo, who was handed a four-month transfer ban four months after the sale.
According to the Catalan police charge sheet seen by Reuters, Rooney used the internet to discuss transfer deals with agent Jorge Mendes via email on 12 June 2013.
Mendes was a key figure in the transfer of Rooney and Ronaldo, which included a move to Real Madrid for Ronaldo’s brother Giovane.
Rooney and Mendes had agreed a transfer fee of £65 million, a huge amount at the time, which was paid to Real Madrid.
Mendes has always denied any wrongdoing in the transfer of Ronaldo.
Rialla, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal, was arrested last October at Heathrow Airport near Manchester after arriving on a direct flight from Paris.
The charge sheet, seen in its entirety by Reuters, said a journalist from an English media outlet contacted Rialla via an agent.
The journalist said he was told by Rialla’s representative to look up Real Madrid, the club Ronaldo was to join next season.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has always said Ronaldo’s transfer had been approved by the club’s board.
Rialla appeared in court in November and denied all the charges he faced.
He was in breach of several European Union rules because his tax affairs were not declared for four years.
He will be allowed to leave Spain before his prison term ends on