Valentino Rossi is considering taking legal action over the Ryanair advert featuring his tax investigation

Valentino Rossi has instructed lawyers to look at taking legal action against budget airline Ryanair after a new advertising campaign featured a reference to the Italian’s current multi-million pound tax investigation.

The advert was run in big Italian newspaper Il Messagero last week and featured a headshot of Valentino Rossi and underneath his portrait it read:  ‘Two million places, paying only the taxes.’

There was also a speech bubble coming from the 28-year-old Italian’s mouth that says: ‘I can come back with Ryanair and I only have to pay the tax.”

Valentino Rossi was asked about the advert, which has apparently become the talk of Italy, at a news conference on the eve of the Japanese MotoGP in the Twin Ring Motegi.

“I don’t see this. It’s a strange, strange idea because they don’t say nothing to me.

“Maybe they want to help us pay the fee. I think this is a good way for it,” said Rossi, with his Fiat Yamaha team confirming he had instructed his lawyers to take legal action against Ryanair.

Valentino Rossi is currently embroiled in a £40m tax investigation by Italian authorities.