Carlo Ancelotti risks jail term as Real Madrid boss to stand trial in Spain

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti risks a jail term of more than four years over alleged tax fraud, a court in Spain has said.

Ancelotti is currently in his second spell as Madrid boss, having returned in 2021. The Real Madrid manager is set to face a court hearing next Wednesday.

According to reports, the allegations are understood to relate to a time period during his first stint at the Bernabeu. According to AFP, citing a statement from a court in the Spanish capital, Ancelotti is accused of having failed to declare earnings related to image rights in 2014 and 2015.

He is alleged to have cost the Spanish treasury more than €1million (around £837,000).

Coach Carlo Ancelotti (Photo by Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez/Soccrates/Getty Images)

The 65-year-old is accused of using a “confusing” and “complex” series of shell companies to hide earnings. The prosecution alleges that he declared his personal remuneration from Real Madrid, but not other earnings.

Ancelotti is required to be present for next week’s hearing, according to reports. AFP indicates the trial itself is not expected to last more than two days, with prosecution seeking a sentence of four years and nine months.

The Italian was ordered to stand trial in 2023, though at the time no date was set. Ancelotti was asked about the matter in 2024.

“It is an old story, it does not affect me and I hope it is resolved quickly,” he told reporters. “I am calm and the only problem I have is getting the team to play better.”

Ancelotti won the Champions League in his first Real Madrid spell. He has also added two more wins since returning, beating Liverpool in the 2022 final and overcoming Borussia Dortmund last June.