Despite expecting a hefty fine and two-year prison sentence for defrauding the Spanish treasury, Cristiano Ronaldo arrived looking as though he didn't have a care in the world upon arriving at a Madrid court on Tuesday.
Donning an all-black outfit with white trainers, finished off neatly with shades and gleaming earrings, Juventus winger Ronaldo looked more like he was walking the red carpet rather than climbing the stony steps to a Madrid court at around 9.37 am local time, hand in hand with Spanish girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez.
The 33-year-old football icon was found guilty of four offences of tax evasion, including hiding income generated from his image rights, which breached his fiscal obligations. Along with the jail sentence, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will also pay a fine of €18.8 million.
A judge refused the player's request to appear in court via video link or to drive into the building by car to avoid paparazzi, meaning just hours after Juventus' 3-0 Serie A win over Chievo, Ronaldo made the journey to from Turin to the Spanish capital.
Never one to miss an opportunity to look good in front of the cameras, Ronaldo gave reporters a wide grin and a thumbs up upon arrival.
He is widely expected to plead guilty and accept the pre-arranged fine and jail time. However, he will not spend any time behind bars as, according to Spanish laws, a custodial sentence of two years or less can be served on probation, if it is the first offence committed.
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