Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti recently took the stand in a Spanish court, facing serious tax evasion charges that accuse him of failing to pay approximately 1 million euros (£830,000) in taxes related to his salary during his first period with the club from 2013 to 2015. Ancelotti, appointed for his second term at Real Madrid in 2021, expressed his belief that he never intended to commit any fraud.
The prosecution is pushing for a significant sentence of four years and nine months in prison, along with a hefty fine of 3.2 million euros (£2.7 million). The charges specifically relate to claims that Ancelotti reported only his Real Madrid salary while neglecting to include earnings from his image rights.
During his testimony at the Provincial Court of Madrid, Ancelotti confidently declared, "For me, everything was in order." He recounted that his net salary was agreed upon at 6 million euros (£5.1 million), and he relied on financial advisors to manage the details of his compensation structure. "I thought it was quite normal because at that time all the players and the previous coach had [done the same]," he noted.
Ancelotti also clarified the distinct perceptions around image rights within football, stating that "for coaches, [image rights] don't mean the same as they do for players because they don't sell shirts." This case is part of a worrying trend, as several notable figures in Spanish football, including past stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, have faced similar tax-related allegations, demonstrating the serious scrutiny on financial practices in the sport.
