Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has firmly denied allegations of tax fraud that have emerged during an ongoing investigation in Spain. After his team qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals with a draw against RB Leipzig, Ancelotti declared his innocence on television channel Movistar Plus.
“I am convinced that I am innocent and that I was not a resident in Spain in 2015”, Ancelotti, 64, said in the interview. The coach stressed that the story dates back eight years, when the Spanish tax office mistakenly believed he was a resident in the country.
Madrid prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of four years and nine months for Ancelotti, but he remains confident. “I hope it gets resolved soon. I can sleep soundly”, he said, defining the investigation as a “old reheated story.” The charges leveled against the Italian coach concern the alleged evasion of over 1 million euros in taxes in the periods 2014-2015.
The Prosecutor's Office accuses Ancelotti of having declared only his salary during his first term as Real Madrid coach, concealing the earnings from image rights. Ancelotti said he had already paid a tax fine, specifying that the further investigation is linked to his place of residence in 2015, the year in which he was fired from Madrid.
Article published on March 7, 2024 - 11pm
