Real Madrid make shock Carlo Ancelotti sack decision after Arsenal defeat

Real Madrid have reportedly decided to part ways with manger Carlo Ancelotti before the end of the current season.

Ancelotti has been under pressure all season after last summer's introduction of Kylian Mbappe failed to turn Madrid into Europe's dominant side. They were dumped out of the Champions League without ever really threatening Arsenal in the quarter-final, while they have fallen four points behind Barcelona in the La Liga title race.

The two Clasico rivals will meet in the Copa del Rey final on April 26 and, according to Sky Sports News, that will be Ancelotti's final match in charge.

After the defeat to Arsenal, Ancelotti confessed he could be sacked soon and admitted he did not even want to know what the future holds.

"I don't know," he said. "And honestly, I don't want to know right now.

"It could be this year, next year when my contract runs out... There's no problem about it. But when I am done here, I will be grateful to this club. It could be tomorrow, in one year, or in ten years, but I will be grateful to this club. And that's it. Full stop."

The assumption has always been that Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso would be the man to replace Ancelotti in the Madrid dugout, but the Bundesliga side's sporting director recently insisted Alonso has already confirmed he will not be leaving this summer.

Recent reports have suggested Madrid could attempt to lure former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp back into management. The current head of global soccer at Red Bull is said to be tired of his new role, according to UOL, and is open to a new manager job.

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