Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti remained coy when questioned on his future following Saturday's Copa del Rey final.
Los Blancos suffered a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in Saturday night's El Clasico, with Jules Kounde's strike proving to be the difference between the two teams in the final stages of extra-time.
Real Madrid can still end the 2024-25 campaign with two trophies, having won the UEFA Super Cup back in August, while they are second in the La Liga table, four points behind leaders Barcelona.
However, Saturday's loss was another bitter blow for a team that were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by Arsenal, and there is expected to be a change in the dug-out this summer.
Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso is the favourite to replace Ancelotti, and the Italian could not offer any guarantees over his future when questioned in the immediate aftermath of the loss to Barcelona.
"I can go on or I can stop. It will be an ongoing issue in the coming weeks," Ancelotti told reporters.
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Ancelotti is expected to leave Real Madrid this summer
Brazil continue to be heavily linked with Ancelotti, and it is understood that the national team want the experienced manager to lead them into the 2026 World Cup.
According to the Daily Mail, Diego Fernandes, who is an intermediary for the Brazilian FA, was in attendance for the Copa del Rey final, and further talks were held with Ancelotti's representatives.
Brazil are searching for a replacement for Dorival Junior, who left in March, and the Brazilian Football Confederation are said to want a new manager in place before their next set of matches in June, with their game with Ecuador at the start of the month coming after a heavy defeat to Argentina at the end of March.
Real Madrid have five more league matches before the end of the 2024-25 campaign, starting with next weekend's fixture with Celta Vigo, and they will then head to Barcelona for a potential title decider on May 11.
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Who will manage Real Madrid for the Club World Cup?
While Alonso is viewed as the leading managerial target, it is believed that Real Madrid are giving serious consideration to bringing in an interim head coach for the Club World Cup.
Real Madrid Castilla boss Raul is believed to be an option, while the club's director of football Santiago Solari could be placed in charge for the tournament, which will begin in the middle of June.
It makes little sense to keep Ancelotti in the role for the Club World Cup if a change is being planned, and all of the signs are currently pointing towards the Real Madrid head coach taking charge of the Brazilian national side.
Alonso could then arrive once the summer competition has concluded, but the situation is expected to become clearer in the coming weeks once Real Madrid and Leverkusen's seasons have ended.
Matt Law
