Cristiano Ronaldo beats Juventus in court battle – and can keep his £8.5m wages

Cristiano Ronaldo will be able to keep £8.5million in wages from his former club Juventus after a court found in his favour amid a long-running legal battle.

Juventus were last year ordered to pay Ronaldo, after the veteran forward had taken legal action.

The Portuguese star wanted to be paid £17million, the net amount that he was promised by the club when he agreed to defer his wages during lockdown.

Juventus players had agreed to defer four months’ worth of their salaries in March 2020 and April 2021 as the club were struggling financially, which was never received. 

The Italian side failed to report these deferred wages – known as ‘salary manoeuvres’ – on their financial statements.

The initial arbitration last year ruled that Ronaldo and Juventus share responsibility over the matter, and ordered for the club to pay half of the deferred wages.

Juventus had launched an appeal against the decision to the Turin Labour Court, but the Old Lady have been unsuccessful.

Labour judge Gian Luca Robaldo confirmed the initial verdict, with Juventus unable to recoup the sum.

Juventus will reportedly not face a further financial impact, having included the sum in their 2023-24 budget.

The Serie A giants could yet make another appeal against the verdict, according to Gazzetta Dello Sport.

Ronaldo had played for Juventus between 2018 to 2021, after joining the Italian side from Real Madrid.

He scored 101 goals in 134 matches for the club, winning two league titles and a Coppa Italia, before returning to Man United in a £12.8m deal in 2021.

Ronaldo, who turns 41 next month, is currently playing for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.