Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid have clarified reports stating that the European champions would not take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, with the Italian saying his statements had not been interpreted the way he intended.
The Los Blancos gaffer had been quoted by Italian publication, Il Giornale, in an interview on Monday saying the world football’s governing body had attached no proper value to the compensation the LaLiga champions would get in the 32-team tournament.
Ancelotti was quoted saying: “FIFA can forget it, footballers and clubs will not participate in that tournament.”
The record Champions League winning manager, however, debunked the comments in a social media post on Monday.
“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,” Ancelotti insisted.
Real Madrid also reiterated, saying their participation in the competition is not a thing of consideration but a certainty.
“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,” the Spanish giants said in a statement.
Ancelotti, one of the most respected and successful football managers in Europe, has lifted the Club World Cup on three occasions and the Champions League five times.
“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,” the legendary Italian had been quoted as stating in the interview.
With all three European club competitions expanded to 36 teams from next season, the Club World Cup has come under criticism for packed football calendar.
In May, FIFA insisted they would not entertain rescheduling their 32-team Club World Cup after global players’ union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association (WLA) threatened legal action if they did not review their plans.
