Juventus' Ronaldo Gamble Backfires! CR7 Has The Last Laugh After Winning €10m Court Battle

Cristiano Ronaldo has come out on top once more 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 former forward.

According to The Athletic, Juventus had appealed a 2024 arbitration ruling that ordered them to pay Ronaldo’s deferred wages dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Italy’s Court of Appeal has now dismissed that challenge, meaning the money stays with the Portugal captain.

The Dispute That Started During COVID-19

The case stems from the pandemic-hit 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons, when Juventus announced that players had agreed to waive four months of salary to help the club manage financial pressure.

Later investigations revealed that some players,

including Ronaldo, had not truly waived their wages but instead agreed to defer payment through private agreements.

Why Ronaldo Took Juventus to Court

When Juventus refused to fully reimburse him following his departure in 2021, Ronaldo launched legal action. He claimed he was owed close to €20 million in unpaid wages, citing a side agreement later dubbed the “Ronaldo paper.”

Arbitration Ruling Favors Ronaldo

In April 2024, an arbitration tribunal ruled partially in Ronaldo’s favour. Juventus were ordered to pay approximately €9.7 million, plus interest and legal costs, though the player had sought nearly double that amount.

Juventus complied with the ruling but immediately filed an appeal, attempting to recover the money.

Appeal Dismissed as Juventus Pay Legal Costs

That appeal has now failed. The Turin Labour Court upheld the original verdict and ordered Juventus to pay an additional €80,000 in legal fees.

While Ronaldo’s counter-claim for the full €19.6 million was rejected, the ruling confirms that Juventus have no right to reclaim the funds already paid.

Another Blow From Juventus’ Financial Scandals

The case adds to the fallout from Juventus’ COVID-era wage manoeuvres, which were central to the wider ‘Prisma’ and ‘Plusvalenza’ investigations.

Those probes resulted in boardroom resignations, bans for senior executives, and a nine-point Serie A deduction during the 2022–23 season.

Ronaldo’s Juventus Legacy

Ronaldo spent three seasons in Turin after joining from Real Madrid in 2018. He scored 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 now plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.