Ronaldo Wins €10 Million in Court, Juventus’ Gamble Backfires

Cristiano Ronaldo Wins €10 Million Legal Battle Against Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo has emerged victorious in his long-running legal dispute with Juventus, after an Italian court ruled the Serie A club cannot reclaim nearly €10 million paid to the Portuguese star.

The ruling stems from a 2024 arbitration decision requiring Juventus to pay deferred wages dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic. The club had appealed, seeking to recover the funds, but Italy’s Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge, confirming the money remains with Ronaldo.

The Dispute During COVID-19

During the pandemic-hit 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons, Juventus announced that players had agreed to waive four months’ salaries to ease the club’s financial strain. Investigations later revealed that some players, including Ronaldo, had instead deferred their wages through private agreements.

After leaving Juventus in 2021, Ronaldo filed a legal claim for nearly €20 million in unpaid wages, citing what became known as the “Ronaldo paper.” In April 2024, an arbitration tribunal ruled partially in his favour, awarding him approximately €9.7 million plus interest and legal costs.

Appeal Rejected

Juventus complied with the arbitration ruling but immediately filed an appeal. The Turin Labour Court has now rejected that appeal and ordered the club to pay an additional €80,000 in legal fees. While Ronaldo’s claim for the full €19.6 million was denied, the verdict ensures Juventus cannot reclaim the funds already paid.

Context: Juventus’ COVID-Era Controversies

The case adds to Juventus’ off-field troubles, including the ‘Prisma’ and ‘Plusvalenza’ investigations. These scandals led to boardroom resignations, executive bans, and a nine-point Serie A deduction during the 2022–23 season.

Ronaldo’s Juventus Legacy

Ronaldo spent three seasons at Juventus (2018–2021), scoring 101 goals in 134 appearances, winning two Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia, and two Italian Super Cups. He left for Manchester United in 2021 and currently plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.