In brief
Real Madrid's head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has taken the stand in a Spanish court, defending himself against tax evasion allegations amounting to €1 million. The seasoned Italian manager, who returned to the club in 2021, asserted he has "never thought about committing fraud," during his testimony relating to omitted income from image rights on his tax returns while managing from 2013 to 2015. The prosecution is seeking a significant prison sentence alongside a hefty financial penalty.
Ancelotti explained he was offered a net salary of €6 million and trusted his financial advisors for tax matters, stating, "For me, everything was in order." He highlighted that the way image rights were taxed for coaches differs from players, as they don't typically generate merchandise sales. Ancelotti's case follows a trend of tax evasion investigations involving prominent figures in Spanish football, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who faced similar legal issues and penalties in the past.In recent years, several high-profile figures in Spanish football have faced scrutiny for tax evasion.
