Carlo Ancelotti has announced he will disclose his future plans following Real Madrid’s final La Liga match on May 25. The announcement came admidst speculation linking him to the Brazil national team job. The Italian tactician, whose contract with Los Blancos runs until 2026, has maintained focus on Madrid’s title pursuit. With five games remaining, Ancelotti’s team trails fierce rivals Barcelona‘s by four points. A league triumph would provide some consolation after a disappointing cup campaign with Madrid having fallen short in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona and exiting the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Arsenal in the quarter-finals. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s encounter with Celta Vigo, Ancelotti emphasized that discussions about his future would wait until the season concludes. “I have a great deal of affection for this club, the players, and our fans—along with a lot of respect,” said the 65-year-old. “That’s why I’ll speak about my future on May 25, not before.” Real Madrid host Real Sociedad in their final league fixture, after which the squad will travel to the United States to prepare for the FIFA Club World Cup, kicking off June 14. Reflecting on his tenure in the Spanish capital, Ancelotti added: “The day I leave Madrid will be a beautiful one. I’ve never had a single issue with this club during either of my spells here.”

Barcelona produced a second-half comeback to defeat Real Valladolid 2-1 on Thursday. This has kept their grip on top spot in La Liga. It has also helped them gain momentum ahead of their upcoming clash with Inter. Despite being virtually relegated, Valladolid showed no signs of backing down. The hosts stunned Hansi Flick’s men early, as Iván Sánchez’s effort deflected off Ronald Araújo. Then, he spun awkwardly beyond Marc-André ter Stegen just six minutes into the goalkeeper’s return from injury. Raúl Moro tested Ter Stegen again shortly after, while Pau Víctor forced a pair of saves at the other end. Barcelona’s attacking efforts from Ansu Fati  and Fermín López blocked as Valladolid stubbornly held their lead into the break. Dani Rodríguez showed flashes of quality before unfortunately exiting due to a shoulder injury, while Lamine Yamal’s introduction injected more urgency into the visitors’ play. Flick made key changes at halftime, introducing Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong. Raphinha made an instant impact latching onto a poor punch from goalkeeper André Ferreira. Just minutes later, Barcelona completed the turnaround when Gerard Martín’s delivery was met by Fermín.