Former Everton winger Royston Drenthe was acquitted of money laundering … after police found more than £ 150,000 hidden in his car.
The ex-Real Madrid and Reading star claimed the money came from his wages as a player after being found in packages in 2019.
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A judge ruled that there wasn’t enough evidence to convict ex-Everton wideman Royston Drenthe of money launderingPhoto credit: Getty Images – Getty
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Royston Drenthe is back in football with Spanish third division team Racing MurciaPhoto credit: Racing Murcia FC
The 33-year-old’s lawyers say Drenthe went bankrupt last year because of the confiscated money – and they would “try to get it back for him”.
Drenthe, who now plays for Spanish third division team Racing Murcia, was on trial in a court in Breda, the Netherlands, on Tuesday.
The jury heard that two years ago the police stopped his car in Halsteren, South Holland.
Cops searched his vehicle and seized packages with 176,500 euros.
Drenthe said the money came from his football salary and he loaned it to a third party through his nephew.
The judge ruled that there wasn’t enough evidence to convict Drenthe and so the ex-Feyenoord ace was exempt from money laundering.
Drenthe’s attorney Joes Blakborn said of his client’s bankruptcy: “It was a consequence of the fact that he no longer had access to his money.
“All of this only happened because Drenthe did not want to say where the money was coming from.
“We’ll try to get it back for him. It’s his money, after all.
“It was clearly from his profession as a footballer. It’s the only thing he has ever done.
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“He loaned his legally earned money to a third person. He’s never been involved in money laundering.”
Drenthe mostly flopped in England with loan spells at Everton and Sheffield Wednesday and two years at Reading.
The well-traveled Wideman is now looking to rebuild his career after joining Murcia from Dutch third division Kozakken Boys last month.
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