Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has made it clear that the club will not be signing a defender during the January transfer window. Despite the absence of first-choice centre-back pairing Éder Militão and David Alaba, Ancelotti believes that the team has enough quality and depth to cope with their absence.
Militão has been sidelined since August with an ACL tear, while Alaba suffered the same injury in a match against Villarreal on December 17th. In the lead-up to Christmas, Ancelotti had hinted at the possibility of signing a defender this month. However, he has now dismissed that possibility and expressed confidence in the existing squad.
According to Ancelotti, Real Madrid has players who can fill in the gaps left by Militão and Alaba. He mentioned Nacho Fernández and Antonio Rüdiger as two players that the coaching staff believes in. Additionally, he highlighted Aurélien Tchouaméni and Dani Carvajal as options in the center-back position. Ancelotti emphasized that the club is not currently considering a signing in that area.
When pressed on whether this decision was final, Ancelotti did not waver. He stated, “I’ll repeat myself: yes, we won’t sign.” This definitive response signifies the club’s confidence in their existing defensive options.
Ancelotti also refused to address rumors linking Real Madrid with Kylian Mbappé. The French forward is now free to negotiate with other clubs as he enters the final six months of his Paris Saint-Germain contract. While there has been speculation about Real Madrid’s interest in Mbappé, Ancelotti made it clear that he would not touch upon that subject.
Looking ahead to the summer transfer window, Ancelotti believes that the squad will require minimal reinforcements. He mentioned players with contracts set to expire, such as Toni Kroos, Nacho, and Luka Modric. According to the manager, these players will have the freedom to decide their futures. Ancelotti expressed satisfaction with the squad’s direction, particularly where young players are concerned. He stated that there isn’t much to be done in terms of squad building for the upcoming summer.
Ancelotti recently signed a new contract extension with Real Madrid, securing his position until June 2026. This agreement followed rumors linking him with the Brazil national team. Ancelotti confirmed that he had been in contact with the former president of the Brazilian federation but stated that his decision to stay at Real Madrid was clear to everyone. He expressed gratitude for the interest shown by the Brazilian federation but emphasized his excitement about staying with Real Madrid.
When asked about the possibility of coaching the Brazil national team in the future, Ancelotti replied with uncertainty. He does not know if they would want him in 2026 but confirmed that he is committed to Real Madrid until the end of his current contract. Ancelotti expressed his happiness with the renewal and did not rule out the possibility of continuing his coaching career beyond 2026, depending on the success he achieves.
Real Madrid, currently sitting atop LaLiga level on points with Girona, will face Real Mallorca in their first game of 2024. Ancelotti provided updates on the injury status of several players. Vinícius Júnior, Dani Carvajal, and Arda Güler have all recovered and will be available for the match. Ancelotti also mentioned that Eduardo Camavinga and Ferland Mendy will be back in the following week. This positive news further reinforces Ancelotti’s confidence in the squad’s ability to navigate through the absence of key players.