Ancelotti to 'respect' Real Madrid contract as he rules out Chelsea return

Tom Hancock

• Updated: 14 Apr 2023 16:49 BST
• 3 min read

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has quashed speculation that he could return to Chelsea this summer, insisting that he intends to honour the remainder of his contract at the Bernabeu.

The decorated Italian tactician was linked with a second spell in the Stamford Bridge dugout after the sacking of Graham Potter earlier this month.

Frank Lampard has been placed back in charge of the Blues – who lost 2-0 to Real in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie earlier this week – on a caretaker basis, with a permanent appointment expected to be made ahead of next season.

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Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique and Mauricio Pochettino are among the other names touted to take over at Chelsea, but Ancelotti has ruled himself out of the running.

Discussing his future on Italian radio station Rai Radio 1, the 63-year-old – who led Chelsea to the 2009/10 Premier League title – said:

“There’s a nice saying which is just right: the wind carries away the chatter. And that’s it: I have a contract until June 30, 2024 and I’d like to respect it.”

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Ancelotti feeling the 'affection' of Real president

Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 after resigning as Everton manager, having previously coached Los Blancos between 2013 and 2015.

He’s won the Champions League in each of his two stints at the helm, with last season’s triumph seeing him claim European football’s ultimate prize for the fourth time – having also done so twice with AC Milan.

And, despite Real trailing arch-rivals Barcelona by 13 points in La Liga this term, Ancelotti still feels the support of club president Florentino Perez, explaining that he “has always been very affectionate with me and still is”.