Ancelotti reveals dream Real Madrid exit plan but admits it's not up to him

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he would like to stay at the Bernabeu for another four years, but admitted his future "is not for me to decide".

The 65-year-old is seen as one of the greatest managers in the history of football after lifting a record five Champions League trophies, while also winning every major league title across Europe of the Premier League, Ligue 1, LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A.

There had been some reports the former Chelsea, AC Milan and PSG boss could join the Brazil national team in recent years but he has remained with Madrid, who he rejoined for a second spell in 2021.

With Ancelotti set to turn 66 this summer, there will soon be talk of retirement from the game, but the Italian has insisted he has no plans to leave Madrid just yet and would be happy to stay with the Spanish giants until he was nearly 70.

"I want to be very clear," he said. "My departure date from this club is never going to be decided by me, no way. That day will come, but I don't know when it might be, it's not for me to decide. It could be tomorrow after the game, in the next game, in a year or in five years. I have an advantage and I have a goal.

"We will have Florentino Pérez here for another four years and he, who knows me very well, knows that the objective is to be here for another four years and that we can say goodbye together, with all the love in the world."

It comes after reports from Spain that Ancelotti had informed Madrid he wanted to leave the club this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso lined up as a replacement.

The article from Onda Cero said Ancelotti was not considering retirement and wanted to add to his huge trophy collection in another country.

Ancelotti has won a total of 30 trophies across his career, earning him the nickname Don Carlo in Spain, and he looks likely to add another to his cabinet with Madrid currently top of LaLiga.

Madrid are also still in the Champions League and face Red Bull Salzburg in the group stage next on Wednesday night, while they also have a Copa del Rey quarter-final tie against Leganes on February 5.

Ancelotti's men are strong favourites to retain both LaLiga and the Champions League after adding to their already talented squad this season, with the addition of superstar Kylian Mbappe last summer. The Frenchman has scored 18 goals in all competitions so far.