Carlo Ancelotti said ‘we will see’ whether Real Madrid can add players to their squad during the January market window, after the La Liga giants had a rejected approach for Trent Alexander-Arnold earlier this week.
ESPN reported on Tuesday that Premier League leaders Liverpool quickly rejected a January move for the England international, who is Madrid’s main target for next summer when his contract at Anfield expires.
Ancelotti has been reluctant to talk about whether he would like to see additions to his squad this month, with first-choice right-back Dani Carvajal ruled out for the season because of a serious knee injury.
‘To talk about it in this context is difficult,’ Ancelotti said on Thursday, when asked if the subject had been discussed during the break. ‘We will see. We will see. That’s the only thing I can say. We have many games in January, we are focused on that. Talking about the market is not easy for me right now.’
Madrid had been approached about Alexander-Arnold even before Carvajal’s long-term injury, but the Spanish international’s absence has added a sense of urgency to the matter.
‘I don’t want to talk about it because it’s not the time to talk about it here,’ said Ancelotti, when pressed on the subject. ‘I said we will see, and we will see. I am happy with the team we have. We have had difficulties, but we have always been able to overcome them.’
Madrid have been hit by a series of injuries this season, and have been particularly lacking in defence, although these concerns have been alleviated by the return to training of central defender David Alaba.
‘Now we have games to win,’ Ancelotti said ahead of Madrid’s first game of 2025, away to Valencia on Friday. ‘The team has reacted well and is now more motivated, excited and in better shape. The players are back, Alaba has started training with us. So for now the atmosphere is good and we have to maintain it, and we can only do that by winning games.’
Madrid come into the game at the Mestalla one point behind Atlético Madrid and two points ahead of Barcelona, who were top of the table at the start of this season before dropping points in six of their last seven league games.
‘Nobody expected it, the results [of Barcelona] in the last games,’ Ancelotti said. ‘But the level of competitiveness in the league means we will need fewer points to win the championship. With Atlético, us and Barcelona, that means more uncertainty and the points you need [to win the league] will be under 90.’
Ancelotti would not comment on Barcelona’s problems in signing star player Dani Olmo for the second half of the La Liga season. ‘I don’t know the details,’ he said. ‘What I can say is respect for all clubs, institutions and rules. But I cannot answer that.’
Leave a comment