Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, attempted on Thursday to quell talk of a potential future transfer to the Brazilian national team by claiming he was concentrating on the Spanish powerhouse and their forthcoming campaign.
“I will never talk about Brazil, about what is going to happen,” the Italian told reporters in Los Angeles, where Real Madrid will play the first of four US friendlies on Sunday against AC Milan at the Rose Bowl.
“I am the coach of Real Madrid and I am staying here,” Ancelotti insisted, two weeks after Brazilian Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues indicated Ancelotti was poised to become the first foreigner in almost 60 years to coach the Selecao after his Real Madrid contract expires.
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The Italian would take over in time for the Copa America in the United States beginning in June 2024, but Ancelotti indicated the matter was resolved in his opinion.
“I will never talk about this matter again,” he said, noting that he had a contract with Real Madrid “until 30 June 2024″.
Ancelotti also shied away from commenting on the likelihood that Kylian Mbappe, a French sensation currently engaged in a contract dispute with Paris Saint-Germain, will join Real Madrid.
Mbappe “is a player who is not at Madrid,” he said. I don’t think it’s appropriate to discuss players who aren’t present.
Ancelotti did spoke about his strategies for handling Karim Benzema’s exit after the Ballon d’Or winner signed a three-year contract with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia last month.
He declared that he would test out a strategy that makes use of the offensive ability of new additions like Jude Bellingham of England and Arda Guler of Turkey.
“For me, the squad has improved,” he said. “We have lost a player who has been fundamental for years in Karim, whom we wish the best and who has been a club legend. But we have a very young group that we are convinced will give us a lot of satisfaction,” he said.
Ancelotti stated that he was pleased with how the Real Madrid team has come together for the upcoming season, despite the fact that a world-class straight replacement for Benzema has yet to appear.
Several hundred fans showed up to welcome the squad after the press conference and Ancelotti oversaw the first practise at the University of California, Los Angeles.
The team departs for Texas on July 26 to take on Manchester United in Houston before taking on Barcelona in the Clasico on July 29 in Dallas.
On August 2, Madrid will play Juventus in Orlando, Florida, before departing for Spain.