Sharjah 24 – Reuters: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has clarified his comments made to an Italian daily, stating that they were misunderstood. Contrary to reports, Real Madrid remains committed to participating in the Club World Cup, a sentiment echoed in a recent statement by the club.
Ancelotti was previously quoted by Il Giornale expressing dissatisfaction with the compensation offered by FIFA for the revamped 32-team tournament. "FIFA can forget it, footballers and clubs will not participate in that tournament," he was reported as saying.
However, Ancelotti distanced himself from these remarks, emphasizing on social media that he sees the tournament as a valuable opportunity. "Nothing could be further from my interest than to reject the possibility of playing in a tournament that I consider to be a great opportunity to continue fighting for major titles with Real Madrid," he posted.
Real Madrid confirmed their intent to compete in the Club World Cup, highlighting their excitement and pride in the upcoming challenge. "Our club will take part, as planned, in this official competition which we face with pride and with the utmost enthusiasm to once again make our millions of fans all over the world dream of a new title," read their statement.
Ancelotti, a highly decorated manager with three Club World Cup titles and five Champions League victories, was previously quoted criticizing the financial arrangements for the tournament. "A single Real Madrid match is worth 20 million and FIFA wants to give us that amount for the whole cup. Negative. Like us, other clubs will refuse the invitation," he allegedly said.
Despite the controversy, Ancelotti remains focused on his role and maintaining his passion for the game. Reflecting on his career, he acknowledged the pressures managers face but emphasized his continued enthusiasm. "I keep my passion, that's how I live the match, the game, my job," he remarked.
The Club World Cup has faced scrutiny for adding to an already congested football calendar, especially with the expansion of all three European club competitions to 36 teams next season. In response to potential legal challenges from global players' union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association, FIFA announced in May that they would not reschedule the 32-team tournament.
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