Juventus has been ordered by the Italian courts to pay Cristiano Ronaldo €9.7 million ($10.4 million) in unpaid wages for the 2020/21 season, according to a ruling announced on Wednesday.
The case dates back to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, during which Ronaldo allegedly did not receive his full wages from Juventus. Ronaldo, who spent three seasons with Juventus from 2018 to 2021 before returning to Manchester United and later joining Saudi club Al Nassr, filed the claim against his former club.
The Court of Arbitration, to which Ronaldo appealed, has mandated Juventus Turin to pay the specified sum plus interest and procedural costs. The amount represents the discrepancy between Ronaldo’s actual salary received and the amount he was entitled to after tax deductions and other withholdings.
Although Ronaldo initially sought €19.5 million, the arbitration panel reduced the compensation by 50 per cent.
Juventus has yet to provide a statement on the ruling but has indicated that it will do so shortly. The club, which suffered losses of €123.7 million in the 2022-23 financial year, has not accounted for the payment of the outstanding wages in its financial records.
Ronaldo’s tenure at Juventus was marked by success, including two Serie A titles during his three-year spell. His departure from the club saw him return to Manchester United for a second stint before moving to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
According to Forbes, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was ranked as the highest-paid sportsman in 2023, with earnings totalling $136 million, including $46 million in wages.
