Carlo Ancelotti has begun the process of suing Everton in London’s High Court.
Court records show lawyers working on behalf of the former Everton manager filed a claim against the club on Friday. It is listed as relating to “general commercial contracts and arrangements” and will be heard in the commercial court.
Everton declined to comment when contacted by Mirror Football and there is currently no further information on when the hearing may take place.
Ancelotti signed a four-and-a-half-year contract when he was hired by Everton in December 2019. The Italian was in charge for just 67 matches during an 18-month spell, guiding them to finishes of 12th and 10th in the Premier League before leaving Merseyside to re-join Real Madrid and replace Zinedine Zidane in June 2021.
“I have complete respect for everyone associated with Everton and hope they can achieve the exciting opportunities they have in front of them,” Ancelotti said in a statement on the Everton club website at the time.
“While I have enjoyed being at Everton I have been presented with an unexpected opportunity which I believe is the right move for me and my family at this time.”
The 64-year-old’s decision to pursue his former employers in court adds further pressure onto the embattled club, who narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League last month. Despite beating the drop on the final day of the season, the Toffees are mired in other issues.
The club announced on Monday that chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance and strategy officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp had all left their roles.
A statement read: “The outgoing directors have worked tirelessly over recent months to assist with the preparation for a transition to a new board. The club is very appreciative of this generous accommodation, which is both characteristic of them, and entirely in the spirit of the best values of our club.”
The future of chairman Bill Kenwright is also under intense scrutiny, with Everton promising an update “in the next 48 hours”.
Kenwright said: “This has been a great board who have all worked tirelessly for the club, no matter what the circumstances. My relationship with Denise has been known as one of the closest in football. I thank her for her many achievements, particularly her magnificent work in respect of our new stadium.”
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has been trying to sell the club throughout their difficult 2022/23 season. The club are in the process of building a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, while questionable decisions in the transfer market under Moshiri’s reign have drained the club’s finances even more.
