Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti watches team reach Copa del Rey final before tax fraud trial begins

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will go on trial on Wednesday for allegedly failing to declare income to Spain's tax office, the latest in a string of such cases targeting sports figures in the country. Ancelotti was in the dugout to watch his side advance to the Copa del Rey final on Tuesday, following a thrilling 4-4 draw against Real Sociedad after extra time that secured a 5-4 aggregate semi-final victory. Prosecutors are seeking a jail term of four years and nine months for the 65-year-old Italian, accusing him of costing Spain's treasury more than €1 million due to undeclared earnings from image rights in 2014 and 2015. Previous similar cases involving footballers have resulted in suspended sentences. The trial at the High Court of Justice in Madrid is expected to last two days. Prosecutors accuse Ancelotti of only declaring in his tax returns the personal remuneration received from Real Madrid during those two years even though he declared himself a tax resident in Spain and indicated his home was in Madrid. They allege he set up a "confusing" and "complex" system of shell companies to hide his extra earnings during this time from his image rights and other sources such as real estate. A judge leading the investigation said Ancelotti had "acknowledged" the actions that deprived the treasury of money, according to a 2023 court document seen by AFP, which could open the door to a last-minute agreement with prosecutors to settle the case without trial and avoid prison. Ancelotti, who as a coach has won a record five Uefa Champions League trophies including three with Real Madrid, dismissed the affair last year as "an old story that I hope will be resolved soon". "I have confidence in the legal and justice system, so I am not worried," he added last week after the court set a date for his trial. "Of course it upsets me a little if they believe I have committed fraud, but I will go and testify hoping to convince them otherwise." Spain has cracked down in recent years on top football players who have not paid their due. Former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho received a one-year suspended sentence after reaching a guilty plea for tax fraud in 2019. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were both found guilty of tax evasion and received prison sentences that were waived for being first-time offenders. Ancelotti took over at Real Madrid in 2013, leaving in May 2015, before being appointed by Bayern Munich the following year. The former Italy international midfielder, who as a player won the European Cup twice with AC Milan, later managed Napoli and Everton before returning to Real Madrid in 2021. Aside from his success in the Champions League, he has won domestic league titles with Madrid and Milan, in England with Chelsea, in Germany with Bayern Munich and in France with Paris Saint-Germain. He is the club's most decorated coach, winning 15 titles across his two spells in charge to take him clear of Miguel Munoz. The much-travelled Italian will look to add to that number later this month when Real Madrid face either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final. Antonio Rudiger decided a pulsating tie against La Real with a header in the 115th minute Real Sociedad, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, took the lead through Ander Barrenetxea, but Endrick's fine chip pulled the 20-time winners level. A David Alaba own goal and Mikel Oyarzabal's deflected effort helped La Real open up a lead on the Spanish champions but Madrid battled back with goals from Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni. Oyarzabal grabbed his second in stoppage time to force extra time but his side could not hold off Madrid until penalties, with Rudiger's header the final word. "I'm very happy because it was a really hard game with many comebacks and in the end my goal," Rudiger told Real Madrid TV. "For me [the goal] was easy, [I made a] good movement, the corner was very good and because of that we're in the final. "It's a hard season but we're in another final and we will win it."