Juventus have taken their long-running legal dispute with Cristiano Ronaldo to Italy’s Court of Cassation, hoping to overturn a ruling that requires the club to pay their former forward €9.8 million in outstanding wages.
The latest move represents another chapter in a case that dates back to 2021, when Ronaldo left the Italian giants to return to Manchester United.
At the centre of the dispute is an agreement reportedly reached during the COVID-19 pandemic, under which Juventus committed to paying the Portuguese superstar €19.5 million in deferred wages.
The agreement, commonly referred to as the “Ronaldo letter”, came to light during investigations into the club’s financial practices and their so-called wage manoeuvre. The arrangements involved agreements with players over the postponement and payment of salaries during the pandemic.
Ronaldo Wins Two Important Legal Decisions
Ronaldo has already secured two significant victories in the dispute.
In April 2024, an arbitration panel ruled by a majority decision that Juventus must pay him €9.8 million, along with interest and inflation-related adjustments. The amount was approximately half of what the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star had initially sought.
However, the panel also found no evidence that Juventus had deliberately misled Ronaldo. It further noted that the player had not pursued the outstanding payment when he left the club in 2021.
Unwilling to accept the decision, Juventus challenged the ruling in court. Their appeal was rejected by a labour court in Turin in January 2026, which upheld the original arbitration decision.
The club has now decided to take the matter to Italy’s highest court in a further attempt to overturn the outcome.
Juventus Await Hearing Date for Latest Appeal
According to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus formally lodged their latest appeal on March 27, 2026, and are still waiting for a hearing date.
The appeal is also confirmed in the club’s financial report for the 2025–26 season.
The Court of Cassation represents the final level of appeal within Italy’s judicial system, making this another important stage in the club’s effort to challenge the payment ruling.
Whether Juventus can secure a different outcome remains to be seen, but the latest development shows that the club are not prepared to abandon their legal fight against their former star.
Juventus Say Financial Impact Has Already Been Accounted For
Despite the ongoing dispute, Juventus have sought to reassure investors about the potential financial implications.
The club explained that the costs associated with the ruling have already been reflected in their accounts since the 2023–24 financial year.
As a result, Juventus expect the case to have no additional impact on their current or future financial statements.
For Ronaldo, the latest appeal means the legal battle over his outstanding wages remains unresolved. For Juventus, it offers another opportunity to challenge a decision that has gone against them twice.
The next major development will be the Court of Cassation proceedings, which could determine whether the club must finally settle the €9.8 million payment or whether the dispute will take another turn.
