NEW DELHI: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti clarified on Monday that the Champions League winners would not refuse to play in next season's expanded Club World Cup, stating that his comments made to an Italian newspaper had been misinterpreted.
"In my interview with Il Giornale, my words about the FIFA Club World Cup have not been interpreted in the way I intended," Ancelotti posted on X.
"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 great titles with Real Madrid."
Ancelotti had been quoted in Monday's edition of Il Giornale saying that "players and clubs will not participate" in the new tournament.
"A single Real Madrid match is worth 20 million euros and FIFA wants to give us this amount for the entire Cup," he is quoted as saying. "So no. Like us, other clubs will refuse the invitation."
Real Madrid, the reigning champions of both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, swiftly distanced themselves from Ancelotti's comments. The club, which secured its 15th European Cup and Champions League title last season under the Italian manager's guidance, sought to clarify its stance on the matter.
"Real Madrid C. F. would like to announce that at no time has there been any question regarding our participation in the new Club World Cup to be organised by FIFA in the coming 2024/2025 season," the club said in a statement on its website.
"Our club will therefore take part, as planned, in this official competition and we are proud and excited to be involved in it and we will once again inspire our millions of fans all over the world with another trophy."
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) in England has cautioned FIFA about the potential for player strikes in response to the proposed expansion of the Club World Cup to 32 teams.
The tournament is planned to be held in the summer of next year, which would further burden the already packed schedules of professional footballers.
(With AFP inputs)
