The Court of Arbitration on Wednesday ordered Cristiano Ronaldo’s former club Juventus to pay him €9 million after tax, following a legal battle over unpaid wages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March 2020 and April 2021, Juventus players agreed to defer four months’ worth of their salaries as the club was facing financial difficulties during that period.
However, individual agreements were made with squad members as well.
Ronaldo, 39, had requested to be paid $21.3 million in deferred wages, also known as “salary manoeuvres”.
According to the report, Juventus had not allocated a budget for the payment, and it is uncertain whether other players will follow Ronaldo’s example, which could have a significant financial impact on the team.
In 2023, Roma striker Paulo Dybala also reached an agreement with Juventus over the same issue, and received approximately $3.2 million in unpaid wages.
The former Real Madrid star joined Juventus in 2018 and went on to score 101 goals in 134 appearances in all competitions.
While Juventus will have to come to terms with this legal defeat, Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr side host Al Feiha in the Saudi Pro League on Friday, followed by a trip to Al Khaleej on April 27.
