Real Madrid FC Rumors: Carlo Ancelotti Returning to Bernabeu Next Summer?
Former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will consider returning to Bernabeu, but the Italian manager insisted that he is not planning to make a comeback this season.
Real Madrid are struggling in their first season under Rafa Benitez, who came under fire after Los Blancos took two consecutive defeats in Spanish La Liga. Real Madrid took a 3-2 loss to Sevilla on Nov. 8, which was followed by a humbling 4-0 loss against rival FC Barcelona on Saturday.
The twin defeats intensified calls for coaching changes with most fans asking Ancelotti to return to the club. Ancelotti responded to reports linking him to Real Madrid, saying that he is open to returning to Los Blancos.
However, the 56-year-old pointed out that he is not planning to coach again until next summer and indicated that he will also consider coaching English Premier League club Chelsea and Ligue 1 team Paris Saint-Germain.
"I would go back to Real, just like I would go back to Paris Saint-Germain or Chelsea," Ancelotti told RAI radio via ESPN FC. "I had some fantastic experiences abroad, but when I left Madrid I decided to take a year off and that is how it is."
Ancelotti admitted that he has already received calls from several clubs, but he reiterated that he is planning to take a year off. He said that he has learned lessons before when he took coaching gigs while the season is ongoing.
"Some clubs have already made enquiries and I told them all the same thing: that I want to start again from next year," Ancelotti added. "I've taken on three jobs during a season, with Juve, Milan and PSG, and they all turned out to be negative."
But while fans are calling for changes, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said that they are still convinced Benitez will be able to turn things around this season. Perez also denied that some players have approached him to request for coaching changes.
"We have analyzed the sports situation. Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez has all our support and trust," Perez said in a news conference. "The solution to this is Rafa Benitez. We signed him to turn things around. We think he is the right person. But we must let him work -- not listen to those making up lies that board doesn't want him."
In his interview with RAI radio, Ancelotti also had the same take, expressing belief that Benitez will figure things out later in the season. The former Los Blancos coach also confirmed that Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo denied that he has a strained relationship with Benitez.
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