Carlo Ancelotti seated in the court room with some judges
Carlo Ancelotti has officially gone on trial in Spain over allegations of tax fraud. The Real Madrid manager is accused of failing to declare revenue from image rights during his first spell at the club between 2014 and 2015.
The case, which has drawn significant attention, presents a legal challenge for the Italian coach as proceedings get underway.
State prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of up to four years and nine months on two counts of tax fraud, alleging that Ancelotti defrauded the state of €1 million.
On the first day of the trial, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Ancelotti testified for over 30 minutes.
He stated that he was not directly involved in the details of how his earnings were managed, including any potential issues with tax declarations, and emphasised that he had no intention of committing fraud.
“For me, everything was in order. I never thought about committing fraud. I thought it was quite normal because, at that time, all the players and the previous coach had done the same,” he said.
An out-of-court settlement could still be reached at any stage of the process. A verdict is expected in the coming weeks.
Ancelotti, a former player with 26 caps for Italy, competed in the 1990 World Cup. He returned to Real Madrid for a second stint as head coach in 2021.
As a coach, he has won the Champions League five times, twice with AC Milan and three times with Real Madrid.
FKA/MA
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