Real Madrid

Real Madrid and manager Carlo Ancelotti have clarified the Champions League winners will compete at next year’s Club World Cup despite the Italian earlier saying the club would “refuse the invitation”.

Ancelotti’s comment appeared in an interview with Italian newspaper Il Giornale which was released on Monday.

But the Italian, 65, later posted on social media to say his words were “not interpreted in the way I intended”.

He added: “Nothing could be further from my interest than to reject the possibility of playing in a tournament that I consider could be a great opportunity to continue fighting for big titles with Real Madrid.”

Real are one of 12 European teams already qualified for the 32-team Fifa tournament to be held in the USA between 15 June and 13 July 2025.

In a statement, the La Liga champions said: “Real Madrid would like to announce that at no time has …