Madrid, Spain – Real Madrid’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti has appeared before a Spanish court, facing allegations of tax evasion related to undeclared earnings from image rights. The Italian manager, who insists he believed his financial affairs were “in order,” is accused of failing to declare over €1 million in income to Spanish tax authorities.
During his testimony on Wednesday, Ancelotti told the court, “For me, everything was in order,” adding, “I never thought about committing fraud.”
Speaking on the first day of the trial, the 64-year-old revealed that upon joining Real Madrid, he was offered a net salary of €6 million. He explained that he left the structuring of his contract in the hands of the club and his British adviser.
“I thought it was quite normal because at that time all the players and the previous coach had (done the same),” said Ancelotti, who spent around 40 minutes giving evidence.
Ancelotti joins a growing list of high-profile football figures investigated by Spanish tax authorities. Notable names such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Costa have opted to settle out of court, paying hefty fines. Others, like Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, have chosen to fight the charges in court — with Alonso’s acquittal being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2023.
The Spanish prosecutor is pushing for a prison sentence of four years and nine months for Ancelotti, along with a fine of €3.2 million. The case involves two counts of tax evasion relating to the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years.
Prosecutors argue that Ancelotti only declared his fixed salary from Real Madrid, omitting additional income generated through his image rights.
Ancelotti defended himself by stating that image rights are not as lucrative or significant for coaches as they are for players.
“For coaches (image rights) don’t mean the same as they do for players because they don’t sell shirts,” he stated.
Prior to the hearing, prosecutors confirmed that Spain’s tax authority had already seized the outstanding debt along with the applicable interest from Ancelotti. Nonetheless, legal proceedings continue, and both parties may still reach an out-of-court settlement. A final verdict is expected in the coming weeks.
Ancelotti’s wife Mariann, his son Davide — who also works as an assistant coach at Real Madrid — and his stepdaughter Chloe, were all present in court and gave testimony during Wednesday’s session.
Carlo Ancelotti is widely regarded as one of the most successful managers in modern football. A former midfielder for Italy, he earned 26 international caps and featured in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. After returning to Real Madrid for a second managerial stint in 2021, he has further cemented his legacy by lifting the Champions League trophy five times as a coach — twice with AC Milan and three times with Real Madrid.
