Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti’s tax evasion

 Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti’s tax evasion trial kicked off today in Madrid. 

Prosecutors claim he dodged over €1M in taxes from image rights earnings back in 2014 2015.They’re pushing for 4 years 9 months in jail plus a €3.2M fine. Ancelotti says he’s innocent relied on the club his adviser. Trial’s set for 3 days verdict soon.The tax evasion trial of Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti began on April 2, 2025, at the National Court in Madrid, Spain. Spanish prosecutors accuse the 65-year-old Italian of failing to declare over one million euros in image rights income from 2014 and 2015, during his first tenure with the club. They allege he used a web of shell companies to hide this money while he was a tax resident in Spain, defrauding the authorities.

The prosecution is seeking a prison term of four years and nine months, along with a fine of 3.2 million euros, based on two counts of tax fraud. Ancelotti appeared in court today, denying any intent to break the law. He argued that he trusted Real Madrid and his British financial adviser to manage his earnings, which included a net salary of six million euros, and never considered fraud. He also pointed out that image rights are less lucrative for coaches than for players, who benefit from merchandise sales.

See also:North Central is trending in Nigeria

 

The trial is scheduled to last three days, and while a settlement remains possible, Spain’s tax authority has already recovered the owed amount plus interest from Ancelotti. This case follows a pattern of tax disputes involving football stars in Spain, such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and José Mourinho, though jail time has typically been avoided through suspended sentences or deals.

A decision is expected in the coming weeks, potentially impacting Ancelotti’s future with Real Madrid, where he returned in 2021 and has since won multiple titles, including La Liga and the Champions League. Football fans and legal observers alike are watching closely as this high-profile case unfolds.