Juventus Takes Ronaldo’s €9.8m Salary Dispute to Italy’s Highest Court
Juventus has taken its long-running salary dispute with Cristiano Ronaldo to Italy’s highest court of appeal, challenging a ruling that ordered the Italian club to pay the Portuguese footballer €9.8 million over wages linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The club filed the appeal on March 27, 2026, after a labour court in Turin rejected its challenge to an earlier arbitration ruling in January. Juventus is now asking the Court of Cassation to review the decision, which upheld the award to its former player.
The dispute dates back to Ronaldo’s time at Juventus, where an agreement over deferred wages became the subject of a financial investigation and a prolonged legal battle.
How the Dispute Between Ronaldo and Juventus Started
The dispute began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when football clubs faced financial uncertainty because matches were suspended or played without spectators.
In March 2020, Juventus announced an agreement with its players to reduce their salaries for four months. The arrangement was intended to ease the club’s financial pressure during the pandemic.
However, a separate agreement involving Ronaldo later became central to the dispute.
According to reports, Juventus had agreed to pay Ronaldo approximately €19.6 million in deferred wages. The arrangement was linked to the club’s wider salary-management measures during the pandemic.
The agreement later became known as the “Ronaldo letter”. Investigators discovered the private document while examining Juventus’ financial practices and its handling of player salaries.
Ronaldo left Juventus in August 2021 to return to Manchester United. The outstanding payment, however, remained unresolved.
The disagreement eventually moved into arbitration after Ronaldo sought to recover the money.
Why Ronaldo Demanded €19.6 Million
Ronaldo’s claim centred on the money he believed Juventus owed him under the salary arrangement.
The dispute became more complicated because the private document reportedly outlining the agreement did not carry Ronaldo’s signature. The parties subsequently pursued arbitration to resolve the disagreement.
In April 2024, an arbitration panel ruled in Ronaldo’s favour, but it did not grant his entire claim.
The panel ordered Juventus to pay him approximately €9.8 million, representing half of the €19.6 million he had sought, plus interest and inflation adjustments.
The panel also found no evidence that Juventus had deliberately misled Ronaldo. It noted that the footballer had not demanded the payment when he left the club in 2021.
Juventus challenged the arbitration decision, refusing to accept the outcome without further legal review.
Why Juventus Is Taking Ronaldo’s Case to the Highest Court
Juventus has continued its legal challenge despite losing its first attempt to overturn the arbitration award.
In September 2024, the club filed an appeal with the labour division of the Turin court. On January 13, 2026, the court rejected the challenge, leaving the original award in place.
Juventus has now taken the matter to Italy’s Court of Cassation, the country’s highest court of appeal.
The club’s latest move seeks a further review of the legal decision. It does not mean Ronaldo has been ordered to return the money or that the previous ruling has automatically been overturned.
According to Juventus’ financial report for the 2025–2026 financial year, the club filed the latest appeal on March 27, 2026. A hearing date has yet to be announced.
The club has also maintained that the financial effects of the award were already reflected in its accounts for the 2023–2024 financial year.
Has Juventus Paid Ronaldo the €9.8 Million?
Yes. Juventus has already paid Ronaldo the €9.8 million awarded through arbitration, together with the applicable adjustments.
The payment was recorded in the club’s accounts for the 2023–2024 financial year.
This means the latest legal action concerns Juventus’ attempt to overturn the decision behind the payment, rather than a new demand for Ronaldo to pay the money back.
The distinction is important because the club’s latest appeal does not automatically reverse the previous rulings or cancel the payment.
Juventus has also stated that the financial effects of the award are already reflected in its accounts, so it does not expect additional negative effects on its current or future financial statements.
What Happens Next?
The case now awaits a hearing before Italy’s Court of Cassation.
Until the court considers the appeal, the previous decisions remain in place. The latest development also does not establish that Juventus will succeed in overturning the ruling.
For Ronaldo, the dispute concerns wages linked to his final period at Juventus before his return to Manchester United in 2021.
For Juventus, the case represents a continued effort to challenge a decision arising from the club’s pandemic-era salary arrangements.
More than five years after Ronaldo’s departure, the dispute remains unresolved at the highest level of Italy’s judicial system.