Real Madrid’s renowned coach, Carlo Ancelotti, is set to face trial next week for allegedly failing to declare income to Spain’s tax authorities.
The 65-year-old Italian, who has enjoyed a highly successful managerial career, is accused of evading taxes on earnings from his image rights between 2014 and 2015, reportedly costing Spain’s treasury over one million euros ($1.1 million).
The trial is scheduled to begin on Wednesday and is expected to last two days. A court spokesman confirmed that Ancelotti, who has led Real Madrid to five Champions League titles, must attend the hearings in person.
Prosecutors allege that Ancelotti only declared the personal salary he received from Real Madrid during those two years.
Despite declaring himself a tax resident in Spain with a home in Madrid, authorities claim that Ancelotti failed to report additional earnings from image rights and other sources, such as real estate.
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The prosecution also accuses him of using a complex web of shell companies to conceal these earnings.
In 2023, a Spanish court ruled that Ancelotti must stand trial for the charges, though a specific trial date was not initially set.
When questioned about the case last year, the coach dismissed the matter, calling it “an old story” and expressing hope that it would be resolved soon.
Ancelotti’s managerial career has been marked by notable successes, including his time at Real Madrid, where he won a historic five Champions League trophies.
He also managed teams like Bayern Munich, Napoli, and Everton before returning to the Spanish giants in 2021.
