Ancelotti close-mouthed on Mbappe

Carlo Ancelotti gave a press conference before Madrid’s opener against Alaves on Saturday and was asked about the likelihood of Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappe.

With French World Cup winner Mbappe out of contract next year, Real are widely believed to be ready to pounce should the striker decide to leave the French capital club.

But Ancelotti preferred to bask in what he says is a hugely exciting crop of up-and-coming players as he embarks on his second spell in charge at the Bernabeu after leaving Everton.

“I’m sorry, I can’t speak about this,” said Ancelotti, when asked the inevitable questions about the possibility of landing Mbappe. “I don’t like talking about players who aren’t here” — though he observed the transfer window, in any case, does not shut until month’s end.

“But I like this squad very much. There’s a good mix of veterans and youngsters who are really up for it, very enthusiastic and very interesting. (There’s) Miguel Gutierrez, Sergio Arribas, Victor Chust, Marvin.
“They can all be very important in the future but in the present too,” said Ancelotti, who won the 2014 Champions League in his first spell in charge at Real which coincided with Wales veteran Gareth Bale’s debut season. Bale has returned to Spain after a season loan back at Tottenham but Ancelotti said there was no reason why he could not rediscover his form of their first spell together.

“He is a great player who maybe didn’t do so well recently but I rate him very highly and he has been training well. The pitch will be the judge, though, not the coach,” said Ancelotti, insisting that the level of competition in the squad would serve to push all his players.
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