Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo vows to stay 'quiet' over tax allegations

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has said "sometimes the best answer is to be quiet" in the wake of allegations he defrauded the Spanish tax office of €14.7 million.

Ronaldo, 32, has been accused by Madrid's regional state prosecutor of four counts of tax fraud relating to image rights payments.

The Portugal captain's representatives have denied the allegations, while Madrid have also thrown their support behind their player and backed him to prove his innocence.

Ronaldo spoke briefly when pressed on the subject by reporters following a training session with Portugal on Wednesday, saying he had a "clear conscience."

And he issued another short message on social media on Thursday.

Accompanying a photo of himself holding a finger to his lips, Ronaldo wrote on Instagram: "Sometimes the best answer it's to be quiet."

Madrid's state prosecutor alleged Ronaldo used an off-shore company to hide a portion of his income from the tax office.

However, a statement from Ronaldo's management company Gestifute insisted the company, Tollin, which was established during Ronaldo's time with Manchester United -- from whom he moved to Madrid in 2009 -- has acted in accordance with British and Spanish tax laws.

Ronaldo is currently on international duty with Portugal preparing for the Confederations Cup in Russia, which begins on Saturday.

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