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Popular Spanish footballers deal with tax evasion

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With Cristiano Ronaldo scoring at a blistering pace since the middle of January, the FC crew discuss the emerging race between him and Messi to be La Liga's top scorer.

Zinedine Zidane is hopeful that Real Madrid will keep moving up the table and Cristiano Ronaldo will beat Lionel Messi as La Liga's top scorer after he scored four goals in Sunday's 6-3 thrashing of Girona.

Recent Spanish media reports claiming Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been negotiating a deal to avoid prison due to his tax arrears are "just noise and smoke" rising now as the judge may be about to move the case forward to trial, a source at the Spanish tax authority has told ESPN FC.

Various Madrid-based publications have claimed to have inside information on the case in which prosecutors at Spain's tax agency maintain that several companies in Ireland and the British Virgin Islands were used by Ronaldo, the Real Madrid forward, and his advisors to avoid paying at least €14.7 million in taxes due on image rights income.

El Mundo reported that Ronaldo's camp offered a "blank cheque" to the tax authorities in exchange for dropping criminal charges and the withdrawal of a potential custodial prison sentence, and AS reported that tax authorities had rejected a settlement offer of €3.8m from Ronaldo's advisors, as officials are demanding a total of €25.7m in back-taxes and fines.

Europa Press reported they had been informed by the tax authority, AEAT, that Ronaldo's case was still being treated as "criminal" despite efforts by the Portugal captain's legal team to have it instead viewed as a misdemeanour.

Sources told ESPN FC that AEAT are not close to making any deals in Ronaldo's case and that the flurry of media reports may be a late effort to influence judge Monica Gomez Ferrer as she decides whether to take the case forward to trial or dismiss the charges.

Cristiano Ronaldo is accused of avoiding the payment of €14.7 million in taxes due on image rights income.

Last July, Ronaldo strongly rejected any wrongdoing during a 90-minute hearing in front of Gomez Ferrer, with the player repeating in court claims that he feels victimised by the Spanish authorities.

His advisors, Gestifute, who did not immediately respond to a request from ESPN FC for comment on the speculation, also strongly refute any wrongdoing with the management of their client's financial affairs.

Should the case go forward to trial, and should Ronaldo continue to protest his innocence and refuse to settle with authorities, he could be found guilty and face a custodial prison sentence of two to six years.

Following July's hearing, Ronaldo hired defence lawyer Jose Antonio Choclan, a veteran of high-profile legal cases involving Spanish public figures.

Ronaldo currently earns an estimated $93 million a year, according to Forbes, with approximately half coming from image rights deals with his many sponsors.
Dermot Corrigan is a Madrid-based football writer who covers La Liga and the Spain national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @dermotmcorrigan

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Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo not near Spanish tax case settlement - source

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Recent Spanish media reports claiming Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been negotiating a deal to avoid prison due to his tax arrears are "just noise and smoke" rising now as the judge may be about to move the case forward to trial, a source at the Spanish tax authority has told ESPN FC.

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Spanish National Day | Spanish Public Holidays | Office Holidays

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National Day: History and background of the National Day Holiday celebration observed in Spain.

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Spain's rapid industrial development dates from about 1960, but the underlying structure that made it possible resulted from a concerted effort by the government to reconstruct and to modernize the economy after the destruction caused by the Civil War.

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From tasty tapas to superb seafood and traditional roasts, food in Spain is all about making the most of the best local produce. We asked travel writer Annie Bennett to pick 10 of the best dishes to try on your travels.

Discover even more fabulous foodie travel experiences and our top eats across the globe in our travel hub.

If you want to transport yourself to Spain from the comfort of your kitchen, try our simple tapas recipes, Spanish recipes and healthy paella recipes.

Don't leave Spain without trying...

1. Gazpacho

The reddest, ripest tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, bread, peppers and cucumber are blended until silky smooth, then chilled and poured into bowls or glasses. So delicious, so refreshing. In Andalucía in southern Spain, people have it every day in summer and there is always a jug on the counter in tapas bars. Also try salmorejo from Córdoba, a thicker version that is often served with pieces of Ibérico ham on the top.

Try making your own... gazpacho or salmorejo

2. Paella

In the Valencia region, they claim you can eat a different rice dish every day of the year, but let's stick with the most traditional version for now. Ingredients for paella Valenciana include chicken or rabbit, saffron, runner beans and butter beans. But the all-important element is the rice, ideally the bomba or Calasparra varieties grown on Spain's east coast, which are particularly good for absorbing all the flavours.

Try making our next level paella recipe or chicken & chorizo paella and check out our top 10 tips for perfect paella.

3. Tortilla Española

Eggs, potatoes, onions... that's it - and some purists even consider that adding onion is a gastronomic crime of the highest order. The Spanish omelette is so much more than the sum of its parts. The potatoes and onions are slow fried in olive oil then mixed with the beaten eggs for the flavours to mix before cooking. Add chorizo, ham, spinach, courgettes or whatever you have to hand to make a tasty meal out of next to nothing.

More like this

Try making your own... Real Spanish omelette.

4. Gambas al ajillo

You walk into a tapas bar, the barman is handing a customer an earthenware dish of sizzling prawns, the tantalising aroma hits your nostrils and you just have to order some too. To recreate it at home, just fry some sliced garlic and green chilli in olive oil, throw in the prawns for a couple of minutes and add some parsley. Couldn't be simpler, couldn't be tastier.

Try making your own... garlic prawns.

5. Tostas de tomate y jamón

Black pigs roam among the holm oak trees in western Spain in search of the acorns that give marbled magenta Ibérico ham its distinctive nutty flavour. Rub thick pieces of toast with garlic and tomato, pour on some olive oil and top with slices of jamón for a quick, delicious lunch.

Try our delicious Spanish tomato bread with jamón Serrano.

6. Patatas bravas

Perhaps the most ubiquitous of tapas, patatas bravas vary quite a bit around the country, but all versions involve chunks of fried potato. In Madrid, bravas sauce is made with sweet and spicy pimentón (Spanish paprika), olive oil, flour and stock - but never tomatoes. Some people add garlic, some a dash of fino sherry, while others selfishly insist on keeping their secret ingredients to themselves.

Try making your own... patatas bravas

7. Pollo al ajillo

Any Spaniard will tell you that the best garlic chicken ever is the one their grandmother makes. And of course they are right. Unpeeled cloves of garlic are fried in olive oil to flavour it, then taken out before adding pieces of chicken. When that's cooked, the garlic goes back in with some rosemary, thyme and some dry sherry or white wine. But there is no definitive recipe for this much-loved dish.

Try our juicy rosemary & garlic chicken.

8. Cochinillo asado

People might claim they are going to Segovia to see its astounding Roman aqueduct, fairytale castle or elegant cathedral, but really all that is just to build up an appetite for lunch. And in Segovia that means either roast suckling pig or lamb. The meat is cooked in huge wood-fired ovens and is so tender it is cut with the side of an earthenware plate.

9. Pisto

The Spanish version of ratatouille turns up all over the country in different guises, but is most typical in the towns and villages across the plains of La Mancha, south of Madrid. Onions, garlic, courgettes, peppers and tomatoes are slow fried in olive oil - this is not a dish that likes to be rushed. It's usually served as a starter, sometimes with fried eggs or chorizo, but is great as a side dish too.

Try making our pisto con huevos - serve this traditional Spanish recipe with rustic bread and a fruity red wine.

10. Turrón

Spaniards devour massive amounts of turrón, or almond nougat, at Christmas, although it's available all year round. Most of it is made in the small town of Jijona in the province of Alicante, using locally-grown almonds mixed with honey and egg white. There are two basic types - a soft, smooth version, called Jijona, and hard Alicante turrón, which contains pieces of almond.

Check out more of our Top 10 international food guides
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From tasty tapas to superb seafood and traditional roasts, food in Spain is all about making the most of the best local produce. We asked travel writer Annie Bennett to pick 10 of the best dishes to try on your travels. Discover even more fabulous foodie travel experiences and our top eats across the globe in our travel hub.

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The topics chosen for this sub-category are food, sports, and arts. These were chosen because they exemplify the aspects of the daily life of an Spaniard. In a classroom setting, these would show how the culture in Spain is set apart from the American culture.

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Government, industry, and holidays in Spain. We selected People and Government because it easily explains elements of Spanish culture and provides supplemental aid to instruction in a classroom setting.

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Summary of European Cups won by a historic Spanish soccer club

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No government in Spain: Economy booms - Politics Podcast - Podcast

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What happens to countries without a government? In the case of Spain, the economy has rocketed - Listen to No government in Spain: Economy booms by Politics Podcast instantly on your tablet, phone or browser - no downloads needed.

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Spain National Day celebrations underway despite political turmoil