In a recent court session held in Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, the current manager of Real Madrid, firmly stated that he "never thought about committing fraud" as he addressed tax evasion allegations. These claims are centered around a reported failure to pay 1 million euros (£830,000) in taxes derived from his salary during his initial tenure with the team from 2013 to 2015. The Italian tactician began his second term with Real Madrid in 2021 and now faces a potential prison sentence of four years and nine months, along with a hefty fine of 3.2 million euros (£2.7 million) if convicted.
During his court testimony, Ancelotti explained that he believed his financial dealings were properly managed, emphasizing that he agreed to a net salary of 6 million euros (£5.1 million) and entrusted the details to his financial advisors. "I thought it was quite normal because at that time all the players and the previous coach had done the same,” he stated. He further clarified that the significance of image rights differs for coaches compared to players, as coaches do not have merchandise linked to their names, such as jerseys.
Ancelotti's tax issues echo a broader trend, as numerous high-profile football figures in Spain have faced similar allegations in recent years. For instance, Lionel Messi was fined 252,000 euros in 2017 after receiving a 21-month prison sentence, while Cristiano Ronaldo paid an 18.8 million euro settlement in 2019, and José Mourinho faced a fine of 2.2 million euros related to tax irregularities during his management of Real Madrid.
These instances underscore the scrutiny surrounding financial practices in football, punctuating Ancelotti's assertion that he acted within the norms prevalent in the sport.
During his court testimony, Ancelotti explained that he believed his financial dealings were properly managed, emphasizing that he agreed to a net salary of 6 million euros (£5.1 million) and entrusted the details to his financial advisors. "I thought it was quite normal because at that time all the players and the previous coach had done the same,” he stated. He further clarified that the significance of image rights differs for coaches compared to players, as coaches do not have merchandise linked to their names, such as jerseys.
Ancelotti's tax issues echo a broader trend, as numerous high-profile football figures in Spain have faced similar allegations in recent years. For instance, Lionel Messi was fined 252,000 euros in 2017 after receiving a 21-month prison sentence, while Cristiano Ronaldo paid an 18.8 million euro settlement in 2019, and José Mourinho faced a fine of 2.2 million euros related to tax irregularities during his management of Real Madrid.
These instances underscore the scrutiny surrounding financial practices in football, punctuating Ancelotti's assertion that he acted within the norms prevalent in the sport.
