Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has rubbished claims of a rift at the club, announcing he would make a decision about his future at the end of the season.
The 65-year old was under scrutiny after his side produced a lackluster performance in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday, bowing out 5-1 on aggregate to the English side in the UCL quarterfinals after a 3-0 first leg loss.
The former AC Milan manager was rumored to have made a decision to leave Los Blancos after the Copa Del Rey final against Barcelona later this month, despite his current contract running until 2026.
“I’ve spoken with the players and the club. We’re all thinking the same way, which is to keep fighting for the trophies we have left,” Ancelotti told a news conference on Saturday, ahead of Madrid’s LaLiga game with Athletic Club.
“There’s no confrontation with the club. We’re all in the same boat. Anyone who says there’s a confrontation with the club, or the president [Florentino Pérez], isn’t telling the truth.
All I can do is thank these players, I’ve enjoyed this and I want to keep doing so. We’re still united, we have a great relationship.”
Ancelotti has been previously linked with the Brazilian National team since 2023, and is likely to leave the European champions at the end of the season with Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso and former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp favorites for the job.
The Italian has led Madrid to two league and UCL doubles in his second stint in charge, although a number of high-profile losses notably to Barcelona in the league and Spanish Super Cup final has led to calls for his dismissal.
“We’re still competing for trophies. We have one [the Copa del Rey final] in a week, and we have the first ever Club World Cup at the end of the season, it wouldn’t be right to do it now,” Ancelotti continued.
“At the end of the season, I’ll talk about that with the club,” Ancelotti said. “I don’t want to talk about my future today. It’s an obvious question, but I don’t want to talk about it. So all I say is we’ll talk about it with the club at the end of the season.”
Real Madrid are currently four points behind league leaders Barcelona ahead of their weekend match against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu, hoping to bounce back from their midweek setback.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
