The Italian had previously stated his intention to take a year out after back surgery this summer but is now considering a dramatic U-turn
Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he will decide on June 3 whether to take charge of AC Milan again, with club CEO Adriano Galliani admitting that the chances of the coach returning to San Siro are now “50-50”.
Ancelotti was sacked as Real Madrid coach on Monday and claimed that he would take a year out of the game to recover from a back operation he will undergo in Canada this summer.
However, Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi immediately sent right-hand man Galliani to the Spanish capital to persuade Ancelotti to re-join the Rossoneri, where he won two Champions Leagues with during an eight-year stint at the Giuseppe Meazza between 2001 and 2009.
Ancelotti was still expected to go ahead with his plan for a 12-month sabbatical but the 55-year-old has now admitted that he is in two minds over what to do next.
“I’ve always got on well with Galliani,” he told Milan Channel. “We’ll decide on June 3.
“Will I take a year off? We’ll see.”
As for Galliani, he is also cautiously optimistic about Milan’s chances of bringing Ancelotti back to Italy.
“Carlo is thinking of taking a break for a year but I hope to convince him to accept Milan’s offer. The final response will arrive on Wednesday,” he said.
“He’ll think about it for a few more days but he told me that there’s a 50-50 chance.
“I’ll call him on Wednesday. We’re agreed on everything but we’ll see what he says on Wednesday when I call him.”
Ancelotti won the Copa del Rey and the Champions League in 2013-14 – his first in charge of Madrid – but he was fired after Los Blancos finished second to Barcelona in La Liga and knocked out of Europe by Juventus.
The Dutchman, who fell out with the Spaniard during their time together at Liverpool, has offered a sardonic response to the coach’s reported move to the Santiago Bernabeu
Ryan Babel has mocked Real Madrid’s seemingly imminent appointment of Rafa Benitez as their new coach, claiming that the former Liverpool boss will turn star forward Cristiano Ronaldo into “a great defender”.
Los Blancos sacked Carlo Ancelotti on Monday and are now set to turn to Benitez, who confirmed on Thursday that he will be parting company with current employers Napoli after the final round of the Serie A season, on Sunday.
Madrid’s move for Benitez has been the subject of much debate in the footballing world and now Babel, who played under the Spaniard at Liverpool, has had his say.
Benitez on his way to Real? He will make Ronaldo a great defender…
— Ryan Babel (@Ryanbabel) May 28, 2015
Babel was signed by Benitez for £11.5 million (€16m) in 2007 but managed only 65 starts in 146 appearances during his four seasons at Anfield before being sold by Kenny Dalglish in January 2011.
The 28-year-old, who now plays for Turkish side Kasimpasa, apologised to Benitez in 2010 after criticising the Spaniard on Twitter for giving him “no explanation” after he was left out of a matchday squad to face Stoke City.
The former Allianz Arena favourite says his old side should sign the 24-year-old attacker to replace veteran winger Franck Ribery
Former Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol has called on the club to join the hunt for Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann.
The France international emerged as one of Spain’s most deadly attackers this season, hitting 22 goals in 37 LIga appearances as Diego Simeone’s side claimed a third-place finish.
Sagnol, who claimed five Bundesliga titles and a Champions League crown during his decade in Bavaria, says Bayern coach Pep Guardiola should look to Griezmann when he searches for a replacement for the 32-year-old Franck Ribery.
“Griezmann fits the style of Bayern and Guardiola,” the Bordeaux coach told Bild.
“He’s a very talented player, he reminds me of Franck Ribery in his early career. But he is more disciplined than Frank used to be. He’s similar to [former Bayern striker] Roy Makaay.
“He’s a player for the last 25 metres and Guardiola needs someone like that.
“Bayern and I always keep in touch. They know who they can call if they want to know about a French player.”
Griezmann joined Atleti from Real Sociedad for a fee of around €30 million in July 2014 and has recently been linked with a move to Chelsea reported to be worth more than twice that amount.
The 23-year-old is out of contract in the summer but the Spurs head coach remained quiet on his interest for the England Under-21 international
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino refused to be drawn on speculation linking the club with a move for Burnley striker Danny Ings.
England Under-21 international Ings is out of contract at Turf Moor this summer, with reports suggesting Spurs are willing to offer £12million (€17m) in order to prevent other teams from talking to him.
However, Goal understands Liverpool have won the race to sign the striker and Pochettino insists he is not thinking about transfer targets as Tottenham prepare for an end-of-season friendly against Sydney FC.
“I think there are a lot of rumours about that [Ings] now,” he said. “I will not comment about.
“I think it’s not the right moment. It’s the moment to enjoy Sydney. I’m looking forward to Saturday’s game.”
Ings scored 11 goals in 35 appearances as Burnley were relegated from the Premier League this season.