Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti faces a tax fraud trial in Spain, accused of evading over €1 million in taxes during his first stint at the club. Prosecutors seek a four-year prison sentence. Ancelotti denies wrongdoing, citing accounting errors. His trial is set for April 2, just after Madrid’s Copa del Rey clash.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to face trial in Spain over allegations of tax fraud. Prosecutors claim that the Italian coach withheld over €1 million in taxes during his first tenure at the club between 2014 and 2015. They are pushing for a four-year prison sentence if he is convicted.
Ancelotti, 65, has denied any deliberate wrongdoing. He admits there was an underpayment in 2014 but insists the issue stemmed from accounting mismanagement rather than intentional tax evasion. Regarding 2015, he argues that he was not a legal tax resident of Spain, as he did not meet the 183-day residency requirement.
Prosecutors argue that since Ancelotti did not take a new job until 2016, his earnings from Real Madrid were his primary income source, making him liable for taxes in Spain. The case draws comparisons to past legal battles involving football stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who also faced tax-related allegations in Spain but settled their cases financially.
Despite the legal pressure, Ancelotti remains focused on Real Madrid’s season. His trial is scheduled for April 2, just a day after Madrid’s crucial Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Sociedad.
While high-profile tax cases in Spain often end in financial settlements rather than prison sentences, Ancelotti’s legal team is preparing to contest the charges. His fate now rests in the hands of the Spanish court, which will decide whether he deliberately avoided paying taxes or was a victim of financial mismanagement.
