Ancelotti's buy-out blues

Carlo Ancelotti needs to be a free agent to sign for Real Madrid. Florentino Pérez has made it clear to the Italian coach that he has ten days to organise his exit from PSG and that the club will not, under any circumstances, cough up for his buy-out clause, according to Marca TV's 'Futboleros' programme.

This is a different scenario from when Pellegrini and Mourinho joined the ranks. 'Los Blancos' paid €4 million to Villarreal to secure the Chilean, and shelled out €16 million (even though Madrid only admits to having paid €8 million) to free up the Portuguese manager from his contract with Inter.

Ancelotti still has a year to go under contract, but his relationship with the Sheikh is not ideal. PSG's French league title and a strong Champions League performance have changed things for the French club president, who would like Ancelotti to fulfil his contract.

The Italian coach will have a meeting with the Sheikh over the coming days to decide his future and he will make it clear that he would like to go to Real Madrid. All that remains then is for him to convince Al-Khelaifi not to make him pay the €4 million buy-out clause.