Cristiano Ronaldo's former agent Jorge Mendes paying back €18m to Portuguese authorities despite pleading innocence in tax fraud case

The Public Prosecutor's Office in Portugal accused Mendes and his wife, Sara, of tax fraud as part of a long-running investigation. He denies guilt but is still paying the sum to the country's tax authorities, report The Times.

The original accusation was linked to the Football Leaks revelation in 2018, with Mendes said to have donated half of his company's capital to his wife's Amsterdam-registered company in order to avoid paying tax on dividends.

Mendes has earned large sums from the football transfer business, having previously represented Ronaldo and now taking charge of Barcelona star Lamine Yamal's affairs.

Mendes is now taking steps to pay the sum and will hope that ends the case against him.