Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has firmly denied allegations of tax fraud that emerged during an ongoing investigation in Spain. After his team qualified for the Champions League quarterfinals with a draw against RB Leipzig, Ancelotti declared his innocence to the television channel Movistar Plus.

"I am convinced that I am innocent and that I was not a resident in Spain in 2015 ," Ancelotti, 64, stated in the interview. The coach emphasized that the incident dates back eight years, when the Spanish tax office mistakenly believed he was resident in the country.

The Madrid prosecutor's office is seeking a prison sentence of four years and nine months for Ancelotti, but he remains confident. "I hope it's resolved soon. I can sleep soundly ," he said, describing the investigation as a "rehashed old story." The charges against the Italian coach concern alleged tax evasion of over €1 million between 2014 and 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.