Carlo Ancelotti, the esteemed coach of Real Madrid, is set to face trial in Spain next week over allegations of tax fraud amounting to over €1 million during his tenure with the club in 2014 and 2015.
Spanish prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of up to four years and nine months, accusing Ancelotti of using a complex network of shell companies to conceal income derived from image rights and other sources.
The trial is scheduled to commence on Wednesday at the Provincial Court of Madrid and is expected to last two days. Ancelotti is required to be present for the hearings. The prosecution alleges that he only declared his salary from Real Madrid, omitting significant earnings from image rights, which were purportedly funneled through a series of trusts and intermediary companies to evade taxes.
Ancelotti has denied any wrongdoing, previously dismissing the allegations as an "old story" and expressing confidence that the matter would be resolved in his favour. This case adds to a series of high-profile tax-related prosecutions involving football figures in Spain, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have faced similar charges in recent years.