Concerns for Carlo Ancelotti: Spain demands a five-year prison sentence for the Real Madrid coach on charges of fraud Primera Division

In total, the Madrid regional prosecutor's office wants to see Ancelotti jailed for four years and nine months. The Real Madrid coach is said to have defrauded the Spanish treasury of more than one million euros in 2014 (386,361 euros) and 2015 (675,718 euros). These alleged violations occurred during Ancelotti's first period as Real Madrid coach, when he was appointed to the Bernabeu in 2013. He left two years later, returning in 2021 through Bayern Munich, Napoli and Everton.

Ancelotti allegedly did not declare his income from image rights to tax authorities in 2014, a Spanish court announced last year. The coach had announced his income as Real Madrid coach, but not from image rights and other sources of income. They accused him of creating a “confusing” system of shell companies to hide his extra income.

This case brings back memories of the case of Xabi Alonso. According to the court, the former Real Madrid midfielder, who is now a successful coach at Bayer Leverkusen, evaded taxes between 2010 and 2012 by placing his image rights with a company on the Portuguese island of Madeira. The Public Prosecution initially demanded a prison sentence of five years, which later became two and a half years. In 2019, Alonso was acquitted of tax fraud.

Top footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Diego Costa have also been accused of tax evasion in Spain in the past. They eventually avoided jail time by reaching a settlement for a lot of money.

Ancelotti will also be given the opportunity to defend himself against these accusations. A hearing date has not yet been set.