Carlo Ancelotti will likely take a break next season, but the former Real Madrid manager is open to returning to the Barclays Premier League in the future.

Derby manager Paul Clement, who has developed a close relationship with Ancelotti during their years of partnership in several teams, said that he is hoping to face the Italian manager in the Premier League.

Clement added that if the right opportunity comes, he is confident Ancelotti will not hesitate to coach in the Premier League again after enjoying his coaching stint in England before.

"I hope to face him in the Premier League," Clement told The Times. "He loved working in England and if the right opportunity came up he wouldn't think twice about coming back here."

Ancelotti, who was sacked by Real Madrid after failing to win a title this season following their success in the Champions League last year, previously managed Chelsea, which he led to a Premier title and FA Cup in 2010.

Despite the recent struggles Ancelotti experienced last season at the Bernabeu, Clement still has high respect for the 55-year-old manager. He called Ancelotti his mentor and admitted that the three-time Champions League winner was the one who convinced him to accept the managerial offer from derby.

"Carlo's my friend, my mentor, and I had a fantastic experience working with him over the years," Clement said. "I learnt a lot. The way he managed me and the way I saw him manage the team and players was phenomenal. He gave me a lot of confidence."

Aside from a possible return to the Premier League, Ancelotti was recently linked to AC Milan, which he led to two Champions League titles in 2003 and 2007. However, AC Milan announced that Ancelotti turned down the offer to coach Rossoneri again starting next season.

"Carlo Ancelotti has informed Milan that he cannot be the coach of the Rossoneri first team next season," the club said in a statement.

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