By Kwame Bediako
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti appeared in a Spanish court on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, to testify in a trial alleging he failed to pay €1 million in taxes related to his image rights revenue. Ancelotti, a highly decorated football manager and a former Italian international who played in the 1990 World Cup, denied any wrongdoing, stating, “For me, everything was in order. I never thought about committing fraud.”
He added that he believed his actions were normal since other players and his predecessor had done the same. The case is the latest in a series of tax fraud investigations targeting high-profile football figures in Spain, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Costa, who have settled similar allegations out of court.
The prosecution alleges that Ancelotti omitted income from his image rights in his tax returns for 2014 and 2015, declaring only his salary from Real Madrid. They are seeking a four-year and nine-month prison sentence, along with a €3.2 million fine.
This case contrasts with the 2023 acquittal of Xabi Alonso, another prominent football figure, who successfully defended his innocence in court. Ancelotti, who has expressed confidence in the Spanish judicial system, returned to Madrid in 2021 for his second stint as head coach, having previously won five UEFA Champions League titles.
The trial, scheduled to last three days in a Madrid court, could still see an out-of-court settlement. Before proceedings began, the prosecutor confirmed that Spain’s tax authority had already seized the debt plus interest from Ancelotti. As the case unfolds, it highlights the ongoing scrutiny of financial dealings among elite football figures in Spain.
