R eal Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti appeared in a Madrid court on Wednesday, where he denied deliberately committing tax fraud by allegedly failing to declare earnings to Spanish tax authorities.
Prosecutors Seek Nearly Five-Year Sentence
Spanish prosecutors are seeking a four-year and nine-month prison sentence for the 65-year-old Italian, accusing him of evading over one million euros ($1.1 million) in taxes on image rights earnings from 2014 and 2015, during his first stint at Real Madrid.
They argue that Ancelotti only declared his salary from the club while omitting additional earnings from his image rights and other sources, allegedly using a network of shell companies to obscure these funds.
Ancelotti Blames Payment Structure on Real Madrid
Ancelotti, however, told the High Court of Justice in Madrid that Real Madrid proposed the payment structure, adding that such arrangements were common among football figures.
"When the club suggests it to me, I put Real Madrid in touch with my advisor. I never handled it personally because I had never been paid that way," he testified.
"I never realised that something wasn’t right. I never considered committing fraud."
Accompanied by his wife, Mariann Barrena, and son, Davide Ancelotti—who serves as Real Madrid’s assistant manager—the veteran coach maintained that he was unaware the company managing his image rights was reducing his tax obligations.
Tax Crackdown on Football Figures
Spain has intensified its tax fraud investigations into football professionals. Similar high-profile cases include:
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José Mourinho – Received a one-year suspended sentence in 2019.
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Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo – Found guilty of tax evasion but avoided prison as first-time offenders.
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Shakira (2023) – Paid €7.3 million to settle tax fraud charges and avoid trial.
Ancelotti’s trial is expected to last two days, though an out-of-court settlement remains possible.
With a decorated career, including league titles in Spain, England, Germany, France, and Italy, Ancelotti has been one of football’s most successful managers.
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