Carlo Ancelotti would have been delighted to stay in charge of Real Madrid next season, despite needing to take time off this summer to have surgery, his wife has said.
The Italian was sacked this week after two seasons at the club in which he won the Champions League, Copa del Rey, European Super Cup and World Club Cup. The team’s failure to land either La Liga or retain the Champions League this year has cost him his job and Los Blancos are on the search for a 12th manager this century.
Ancelotti has said he will now take a year out from the game and will travel to Canada this summer for surgery on a longstanding back issue.
But his wife, Mariann, told Vanity Fair her husband would happily have continued at the club and loved his job in the Spanish capital.
“If Real had wanted, Carlo would have continued. But it did not happen and Carlo wants to recharge his batteries here in Madrid before making a decision about which club will be his next,” she said.
She went on to reveal their plans to stay in Spain for the foreseeable future as they love the warmth of the Madrileno people, and want to travel the country to visit places they have yet to see.
“We wanted to take advantage of the possibility to get to know places in Spain that we have not been able to visit up to now – museums, restaurants etc. In addition, we are going to have a new member of our family shortly and we look forward to the arrival of Alessandro, our daughter Katia’s son.
“Additionally, the people of Madrid are incredible. They have supported us a lot and they have transmitted their respect to us and the enormous appreciation that they have for Carlo.We are very grateful to the people for their affection and loyalty,” she revealed.
