Carlo Ancelotti pictured in the dock in court as Real Madrid manager faces five years in prison for alleged tax evasion

REAL MADRID manager Carlo Ancelotti has insisted ahead of his tax fraud trial he is “innocent” and has “no worries.”

The 65-year-old Italian looked relaxed as he arrived at court in the Spanish capital this morning for the start of his much-anticipated trial the night after his team reached the Copa del Rey final after a thrilling comeback.

3 Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he is 'innocent' ahead of his tax fraud trial Credit: AP

3 The Italian arrived in court to start his trial Credit: Reuters

3 He faces almost five years in jail if found guilty Credit: Getty

Despite the threat of a five-year prison sentence hanging over his head if convicted he replied 'No' when asked by waiting reporters outside the Audiencia Provincial court in Madrid if he was concerned.

He also dismissed suggestions he would try to strike a last-minute plea bargain deal by confirming he would take the stand and plead not guilty to allegations he defrauded the Spanish Treasury out of just over €1m (£835,000) in tax.

Ancelotti was accompanied when he arrived at court by his ex-footballer son Davide, who works under his father at Real Madrid, and his wife Mariann Barrena.

Public prosecutors announced in March last year they were seeking a four-year, nine-month jail term for the former Everton manager for two counts of tax fraud.

They accused him at the time of failing to declare image rights earnings to the Spanish Treasury in 2014 and 2015 during his first spell in charge of Real Madrid through the use of shell companies outside Spain.

Public prosecutors alleged in a pre-trial indictment he only declared his earnings as Real Madrid manager despite registering as a tax resident in Spain for the two years under the spotlight with an address in Madrid.

Although his first spell at the Spanish giants came to a premature end in May 2015, public prosecutors say he rented his Madrid home until October that year which meant Spain was “his principal centre of personal relations and economic interests” in 2015 as well as the previous year.

The accusation made public in March last year alleged Ancelotti channelled his image right earnings “with the aim of evading tax” on them through trusts and intermediary companies.

Public prosecutors say the football boss earned more than €4m (more than £3.5m) in image rights in 2014 and 2015.

The amount of tax they allege he defrauded amounts to just over €1m.

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Spanish Treasury officials have recovered the money but are demanding Ancelotti pays triple the amount they accuse him of defrauding in fines.

Lionel Messi received a 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud in July 2016. It was later changed to a €252,000 (£223,000) fine.

Cristiano Ronaldo avoided prison in Spain by admitting tax fraud in January 2019.

He was fined almost £16.6m and given a suspended jail sentence.

Former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso, seen as a future Real Madrid manager, was acquitted of tax fraud in November 2019 after turning 38.

He had been warned he could be jailed for two and a half years if convicted after Spanish public prosecutors lowered their initial prison demand at the end of his trial in Madrid.

Ancelotti left Everton in June 2021 to take up the position of head coach at Real Madrid.

Last Friday at a press conference he said: “I’m not worried but I am obviously annoyed if they say that I’ve committed fraud, but, once again, I have total confidence in justice.

"I’m really looking forward to testifying next Wednesday.”

Real Madrid booked their place in the Copa del Rey final last night with an incredible comeback against Real Sociedad.

Substitute Antonio Rudiger scored a dramatic goal just five minutes from the end of extra-time to put the Spanish giants through as 5-4 aggregate winners.

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