Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti, the most successful manager in Champions League history, appeared in court in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday over his alleged involvement in tax fraud.
Ancelotti was charged in 2020 after being accused of failing to pay roughly €1million ($1.08m; £830,000 at current rates) in taxes, with the Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office seeking a prison sentence of four years and nine months and a fine of €3.2m ($3.46m; £2.7m).
Advertisement
The charges are in relation to Ancelotti’s earned image rights during his first spell as Madrid manager in 2014 and 2015. Ancelotti is currently in his second stint as Madrid boss, having been re-appointed in 2021.
Despite declaring himself as a tax resident in Spain and listing his domicile as Madrid, he allegedly failed to include income from image rights in his tax returns.
It was clarified in court that Ancelotti has paid the €1.5m debt to the Spanish tax authorities.
The 65-year-old appeared in the 30th Criminal Court of the Provincial Court of Madrid on Wednesday, less than 12 hours after being on the touchline for his side’s dramatic Copa del Rey semi-final victory over Real Sociedad, in which Madrid progressed to the final after winning 5-4 on aggregate.
“I have never thought of committing fraud,” Ancelotti, dressed in a black suit, testified to the court after saying that he would not attempt to make a pact with the prosecutors. “I have never had a company for image rights except for these two years.”
Ancelotti’s defence is that it was Madrid’s obligation to make the correct withholding for the tax authorities when it came to income from his image rights, and he said that he “never” intended to defraud.
Ancelotti appeared in court in Madrid on Wednesday (Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images)
Ancelotti insisted he had “not received one euro more than what was negotiated” and added that it was Madrid who suggested the structure of 85 per cent of his image rights going to the club, with the Italian receiving the remaining 15 per cent.
The Italian said he negotiated directly with Real Madrid a contract of €6m (£5.1m) net annually over three years. “I negotiate in net (salary) because I am not an expert,” the head coach said.
“I thought it was quite normal because at that time all the players and the previous coach (Jose Mourinho) had (done the same),” he said. “For coaches (image rights) don’t mean the same as they do for players because they don’t sell shirts.”
Advertisement
“I have never given importance to image rights,” he told the court. “I only cared about collecting a net six (salary of €6m net annually).”
When the prosecution reminded him that his 2015 tax declaration listed him as a Madrid resident in 2016, when he was already coaching Bayern Munich in Germany, he said: “It’s clear that the (tax) declaration is made for me, sometimes I haven’t seen it.
“It’s obvious that it’s wrong (drafted by the advisers) because everyone knows I was in Munich (coaching Bayern in 2016).”
Ancelotti’s defence has called a private expert who has argued that the Italian only spent 155 days in Madrid in 2015, less than the 183-day annual threshold for becoming a tax resident in Spain.
Following Ancelotti’s testimony, his stepdaughter Chloe McKay, his son Davide and his wife Marien Barrena all testified on his behalf.
Ancelotti left the court on Wednesday by saying that he thought it had gone “very well”.
Multiple high-profile figures in Spanish football have been charged with tax evasion including former Barcelona star Lionel Messi, former Madrid great Cristiano Ronaldo and Madrid’s former head coach Mourinho.
Ancelotti’s coaching career has spanned three decades, with 31 trophy victories including five Champions League titles. Alongside his two spells at Madrid, he has managed a multitude of clubs including Parma, Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Everton.
(Top photo: Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Zug v sestavě se čtveřicí Čechů postoupil do semifinále Ligy mistrů
Připravujeme podrobnosti…Hokejová Liga mistrů - odvetné zápasy čtvrtfinále:KalPa Kuopio - Brynäs 2:3 (1:0, 0:2, 1:1)Branky: 9. Rissanen, 51. Kapanen - 40. a 56. Norlinder, 36. Larsson. První zápas: 1:5, postoupil Brynäs.Ilves Tampere - Lulea 0:3 (0:0, 0:0, 0:3)Branky: 49. O'Neill, 53. Andreasson, 57. Laaksonen. První zápas: 2:3, postoupila Lulea.Frölunda - Ingolstadt 2:2 (0:0, 1:2, 1:0)Branky: 27. Cederquist, 60. Lindholm - 32. Hüttl, 36. Girduckis. První zápas: 3:1, postoupila Frölunda.Zug - Lukko Rauma 3:0 (0:0, 3:0, 0:0)Branky: 22. a 40. Hofmann, 32. Tatar (KOVÁŘ, KUBALÍK). První zápas: 1:3, postoupil Zug.Semifinálové dvojice: Lulea - Zug, Frölunda - Brynäs.
Coco Gauff reflects on surreal Serena Williams encounter: You could have told me that was Jesus
Coco Gauff has never hidden her admiration for Serena Williams, but the way she describes their first real-life encounter captures just how overwhelming that moment truly was. For a young player still finding her footing on the professional tour, seeing her lifelong idol up close felt almost unreal, an experience that continues to shape how she views greatness, pressure, and her own evolving legacy in tennis.Serena Williams feels unstoppable in a menswear inspired lookRecalling that moment years later, Gauff offered a vivid description that quickly went viral for its honesty and emotion."I just remember her walking by, and it just felt not real. You could have told me that was Jesus," the two-time singles Major champion told Forbes.That sense of disbelief speaks volumes about the towering presence Williams carried within the sport. Long before Gauff became a Grand Slam champion […]
Andy Reid firing theory considered “ridiculous”, but creativity called into question
It's official: The Kansas City Chiefs will not partake in this season's NFL playoffs. It's the first time a postseason won't feature the Chiefs since 2014, marking the end of an insane run under head coach Andy Reid. This season, too many things went wrong for the team, capped off with Patrick Mahomes tearing his ACL in the game that sunk the Chiefs' season.Mahomes isn't expecting to miss any time next season, but one down season is enough for fans to call this the end of the Chiefs' dynasty. Some saw it coming, pointing out that regression was going to hit hard after Kansas City won so many one-score games in recent years that easily could have swung the other way. It certainly did in 2025. But the manner in which the Chiefs lost has called into question Reid's job […]
Nymburk padl, přesto postoupil do baráže o osmifinálovou fázi Ligy mistrů
Připravujeme podrobnosti…Basketbalová Liga mistrů - 6. kolo:Skupina B:Chalon - ERA Nymburk 97:84 (36:18, 60:34, 78:65)Nejvíce bodů: Hill 20, Cuthbertson 19, Nadolny 13 - Rice 20, Feazell 17, Rylich 14. Fauly: 14:22. Trestné hody: 27/23 - 5/2. Trojky: 10:16. Doskoky: 39:44Alba Berlín - Sabah Baku 106:82 (42:46).1.Alba Berlín651549:483112.Chalon651539:513113.Nymburk615512:54674.Sabah615486:5447
Filipe Luís tem dúvidas para a decisão da Copa Intercontinental contra o PSG
Filipe Luís tem dúvidas em dois setores do time para a final do Intercontinental (Credit: Alamy)O Flamengo tem uma importante missão nesta quarta-feira: enfrentar o Paris Saint-Germain, em Doha, no Catar, em busca do tão sonhado título da Copa Intercontinental. E, para o confronto contra o campeão da Champions League, Filipe Luís tem todo o elenco que levou para o Catar à disposição. No entanto, o treinador ainda tem dúvidas na defesa e no ataque. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADENa defesa, dois jogadores lutam por uma vaga: Danilo e Léo Ortiz. O experiente jogador da Seleção Brasileira substituiu Ortiz nas últimas partidas da temporada, inclusive na final da Copa Libertadores da América. Foi dele o gol do tetracampeonato contra o Palmeiras, em Lima. No entanto, Léo Ortiz, recuperado de uma lesão no tornozelo, entrou em campo na estreia do time na Copa Intercontinental, […]
Sean McVay set to balance new fatherhood with Rams playoff push
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay added a new and joyful responsibility this week, welcoming his second son just days after guiding his team to a crucial late-season victory. McVay revealed Tuesday that his wife, Veronika McVay, gave birth to their newborn son, Christian McVay, at 6 a.m. Monday morning. Both mother and child are healthy and doing well, according to the 39-year-old coach.Puka Nacua gets blasted by Los Angeles Rams teammates for a livestreamThe timing of the birth added a dramatic layer to the Rams' Week 15 win over the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium. As first reported by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, McVay left the stadium shortly after the final whistle to be present for the delivery."Sean McVay, big win against the Lions right here, but how about this?" Glazer reported. "He tells me he's actually […]
Related
Zug v sestavě se čtveřicí Čechů postoupil do semifinále Ligy mistrů
Připravujeme podrobnosti…Hokejová Liga mistrů - odvetné zápasy čtvrtfinále:KalPa Kuopio - Brynäs 2:3 (1:0, 0:2, 1:1)Branky: 9. Rissanen, 51. Kapanen - 40. a 56. Norlinder, 36. Larsson. První zápas: 1:5, postoupil Brynäs.Ilves Tampere - Lulea 0:3 (0:0, 0:0, 0:3)Branky: 49. O'Neill, 53. Andreasson, 57. Laaksonen. První zápas: 2:3, postoupila Lulea.Frölunda - Ingolstadt 2:2 (0:0, 1:2, 1:0)Branky: 27. Cederquist, 60. Lindholm - 32. Hüttl, 36. Girduckis. První zápas: 3:1, postoupila Frölunda.Zug - Lukko Rauma 3:0 (0:0, 3:0, 0:0)Branky: 22. a 40. Hofmann, 32. Tatar (KOVÁŘ, KUBALÍK). První zápas: 1:3, postoupil Zug.Semifinálové dvojice: Lulea - Zug, Frölunda - Brynäs.
Coco Gauff reflects on surreal Serena Williams encounter: You could have told me that was Jesus
Coco Gauff has never hidden her admiration for Serena Williams, but the way she describes their first real-life encounter captures just how overwhelming that moment truly was. For a young player still finding her footing on the professional tour, seeing her lifelong idol up close felt almost unreal, an experience that continues to shape how she views greatness, pressure, and her own evolving legacy in tennis.Serena Williams feels unstoppable in a menswear inspired lookRecalling that moment years later, Gauff offered a vivid description that quickly went viral for its honesty and emotion."I just remember her walking by, and it just felt not real. You could have told me that was Jesus," the two-time singles Major champion told Forbes.That sense of disbelief speaks volumes about the towering presence Williams carried within the sport. Long before Gauff became a Grand Slam champion […]
Andy Reid firing theory considered “ridiculous”, but creativity called into question
It's official: The Kansas City Chiefs will not partake in this season's NFL playoffs. It's the first time a postseason won't feature the Chiefs since 2014, marking the end of an insane run under head coach Andy Reid. This season, too many things went wrong for the team, capped off with Patrick Mahomes tearing his ACL in the game that sunk the Chiefs' season.Mahomes isn't expecting to miss any time next season, but one down season is enough for fans to call this the end of the Chiefs' dynasty. Some saw it coming, pointing out that regression was going to hit hard after Kansas City won so many one-score games in recent years that easily could have swung the other way. It certainly did in 2025. But the manner in which the Chiefs lost has called into question Reid's job […]
Nymburk padl, přesto postoupil do baráže o osmifinálovou fázi Ligy mistrů
Připravujeme podrobnosti…Basketbalová Liga mistrů - 6. kolo:Skupina B:Chalon - ERA Nymburk 97:84 (36:18, 60:34, 78:65)Nejvíce bodů: Hill 20, Cuthbertson 19, Nadolny 13 - Rice 20, Feazell 17, Rylich 14. Fauly: 14:22. Trestné hody: 27/23 - 5/2. Trojky: 10:16. Doskoky: 39:44Alba Berlín - Sabah Baku 106:82 (42:46).1.Alba Berlín651549:483112.Chalon651539:513113.Nymburk615512:54674.Sabah615486:5447
Filipe Luís tem dúvidas para a decisão da Copa Intercontinental contra o PSG
Filipe Luís tem dúvidas em dois setores do time para a final do Intercontinental (Credit: Alamy)O Flamengo tem uma importante missão nesta quarta-feira: enfrentar o Paris Saint-Germain, em Doha, no Catar, em busca do tão sonhado título da Copa Intercontinental. E, para o confronto contra o campeão da Champions League, Filipe Luís tem todo o elenco que levou para o Catar à disposição. No entanto, o treinador ainda tem dúvidas na defesa e no ataque. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADENa defesa, dois jogadores lutam por uma vaga: Danilo e Léo Ortiz. O experiente jogador da Seleção Brasileira substituiu Ortiz nas últimas partidas da temporada, inclusive na final da Copa Libertadores da América. Foi dele o gol do tetracampeonato contra o Palmeiras, em Lima. No entanto, Léo Ortiz, recuperado de uma lesão no tornozelo, entrou em campo na estreia do time na Copa Intercontinental, […]
Sean McVay set to balance new fatherhood with Rams playoff push
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay added a new and joyful responsibility this week, welcoming his second son just days after guiding his team to a crucial late-season victory. McVay revealed Tuesday that his wife, Veronika McVay, gave birth to their newborn son, Christian McVay, at 6 a.m. Monday morning. Both mother and child are healthy and doing well, according to the 39-year-old coach.Puka Nacua gets blasted by Los Angeles Rams teammates for a livestreamThe timing of the birth added a dramatic layer to the Rams' Week 15 win over the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium. As first reported by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, McVay left the stadium shortly after the final whistle to be present for the delivery."Sean McVay, big win against the Lions right here, but how about this?" Glazer reported. "He tells me he's actually […]
Be the first to leave a comment