Carlo Ancelotti‘s quiet confidence seemed unshakeable on a recent morning in Madrid. Cameras swarmed as the Real Madrid coach slipped into the courthouse, dressed in a crisp black suit. He’s facing accusations that he evaded more than $1 million in taxes during his first stint at the club, yet he insists his conscience is clear.
“I have never thought of committing fraud,” Ancelotti told the court. He pointed to his employer’s obligations, explaining that Real Madrid was supposed to handle his image rights properly. “I only cared about collecting a net six million, and I never realized anything was wrong,” he added.
He was charged with failing to declare income from image rights in 2014 and 2015. Prosecutors claim he used complex corporate structures, including an overseas firm, to hide earnings. They’re asking for nearly five years in prison and a fine of about $3.44 million. Ancelotti, however, maintains that he has already paid around $1.5 million to Spanish authorities and that any remaining disputes should be resolved soon.
He’s not the first football figure in Spain to step into a courtroom over tax issues. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Jose Mourinho grappled with similar allegations. While some of them paid hefty fines—Ronaldo parted with nearly $19 million—none ended up serving time, as Spanish judges can often suspend first offenses under two years.
Carlo’s legacy on the Line?
Much intrigue centers on whether Ancelotti fully understood Spanish tax residency rules. He coached Real Madrid from 2013 to 2015, then left for Bayern Munich, yet prosecutors say he maintained a primary residence in Madrid longer than he admits. “It’s obvious that it’s wrong (drafted by the advisers) because everyone knows I was in Munich,” Ancelotti said in court, describing how he sometimes never even saw the tax forms filed on his behalf.
The trial, which could last several days, is happening in the thick of Real Madrid’s season. Ancelotti is juggling the pressure of La Liga and Champions League campaigns while navigating legal proceedings that threaten his finances and his enduring reputation. Fans revere him for his five Champions League titles—two with AC Milan and three with Real Madrid—and for achieving domestic league triumphs across Europe’s top five leagues.
He’s one of football’s most decorated managers, yet the numbers and documents matter more inside the courtroom than the trophies. “When Real Madrid proposed this to me… everything seemed correct to me,” he told the judge. “If I’m here, I believe things weren’t so correct.”
Still, Ancelotti left the courthouse with a measured optimism. “Let’s see what the judge says,” he offered, voicing a hope shared by Real Madrid’s executives and supporters. A verdict may be weeks away, but the man in the suit remains calm, prepared to face the possible financial and legal fallout from a case he calls an “old story.”
He knows the stakes. Another brush with the law could tarnish the image he’s built over decades. Yet Ancelotti seems determined to see it through, convinced that the truth will emerge. He’s relying on lawyers, not strikers, to score his decisive victory this time.
