Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that he will not be discussing his future at Bernabeu until the end of the season.
The Italian is widely expected to leave Los Blancos this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen‘s Xabi Alonso the strong favourite to replace him at the helm.
Ancelotti will seemingly no longer be taking charge of Brazil, with negotiations believed to have broken down, but the experienced manager is being heavily linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League.
Real Madrid won the UEFA Super Cup last August, while they are still alive in the La Liga title race, sitting second in the table, four points behind leaders Barcelona with five matches left to play.
However, the manner of the team’s Champions League exit, losing 5-1 on aggregate to Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the competition, is believed to have convinced senior figures at Bernabeu to make a change.
Real Madrid were also beaten 3-2 in the final of the Copa del Rey last weekend, with Barcelona, who are on for a treble in the latter stages of the season, securing the trophy.
Ancelotti will not discuss Real Madrid future until May 25
Ancelotti has said that he will not be discussing his future until Real Madrid’s season has concluded, with the team having another five fixtures, including a clash with Barcelona on May 11.
“I can clarify. I am very fond of my club, my players and my fans, as I have respect for them. I will talk about my future on the 25th and not before,” Ancelotti told reporters during Saturday’s press conference.
“I’m fine. I understand that you want to talk about my future, but I don’t. It’s simple. It’s a lack of communication with you.
“I know perfectly well what I have to do, what I am going to do and what I am doing, which is not talking about my future today. I know I’m disappointing you today but I don’t care.”
When asked whether he would be in charge for this summer’s Club World Cup, Ancelotti said: “I don’t have to answer now about what can happen after 25 May.”
Real Madrid will host Celta on Sunday afternoon
Real Madrid will welcome Celta Vigo to Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon before heading to Barcelona next weekend, and their final three league games of the season will then come against Mallorca, Sevilla and Real Sociedad.
“They are a very good team. They are a very well organised team. We’ve had a week to prepare for this game. We are convinced that we can get the best out of them. It’s an important match to stay in the fight for La Liga,” added Ancelotti when asked about Celta.
“There are five games left and anything can happen, what can’t happen is that we give up. We have to win these five games and give everything. If we win we can change the season and have a very good season.”
Real Madrid will begin their Club World Cup competition against Al-Hilal on June 18, while they will also tackle Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg in the group stage of the tournament.
