Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti took what has been perceived as a dig at his club’s main rival FC Barcelona when asked to give an opinion on the registration row surrounding Dani Olmo at a prematch press conference on Thursday.
Because of both a judge and La Liga refusing to grant them permission separately, Barca’s only summer signings Olmo and Pau Victor aren’t cleared to play the rest of the 2024/2025 season as things stand thanks to their temporary licenses expiring on December 31.
There is some distant hope from Barca that the issue can be resolved on January 3, and ahead of his men facing Valencia on the same day, Ancelotti was asked for his thoughts on the topic amid both players being erased from the Catalans’ official squad by La Liga chiefs.
Though he confessed that he didn’t know “the matter in detail”, the Italian stated that “what I can say is to respect all the clubs, the institutions and the rules”.
Amid links to the likes of Trent-Alexander Arnold, Ancelotti also didn’t want to discuss Madrid possibly heading to the transfer market in January.
“I don’t want to comment, because it’s not the time to talk about this topic here. We’ll see what will happen, taking into account that I’m delighted with the squad I have,” he stressed.
“There are games to win, as always, there is nothing new to say about 2024,” Ancelotti also said.