Carlo Ancelotti said “we will see” whether Real Madrid can add to their squad during the January transfer window after their approach to La Liga great Trent Alexander-Arnold was rejected earlier this week.
ESPN reported on Tuesday that Premier League leaders Liverpool were quick to reject a January move for the England international, who is Madrid’s top target next summer when his contract at Anfield expires.
Ancelotti has been reluctant to say whether he will add any players to the squad this month, with starting right-back Dani Carvajal out for the season with a serious knee injury.
Asked if the topic had been discussed during Thursday’s break, Ancelotti said: “It’s difficult to talk about it in this context.” “We’ll see. We’ll see. That’s the only thing I can say. We have a lot of games in January and we’re focused on that. It’s not simple for me to talk about the market now.”
Madrid had been linked with Alexander-Arnold even before Carvajal’s long-term injury, but the Spanish international’s absence has made the issue even more urgent.
Ancelotti said of the topic: “I don’t want to talk about it here because it’s not the time.” “I said we’d see, we’d see. I’m happy with our team. We’ve had our struggles, but we’ve always been able to overcome them.”
Madrid have been plagued by a string of injuries this season, particularly in defence, but those concerns have been allayed with centre-back David Alaba returning to training.
“Now we have a game to win,” Ancelotti said ahead of Madrid’s first game of 2025 away to Valencia on Friday. “The team has responded well and now they are more motivated, more excited and doing better. The players are back and Alaba has started training with us, so the atmosphere is good now and we have to keep that good atmosphere. That is the only thing that matters. “You can only do that by winning the game.”
Madrid go into the game at the Mestalla one point behind Atletico Madrid and two points ahead of Barcelona, who were leaders earlier this season before conceding points in six of their last seven league games.
“No one expected it,” Ancelotti said. “(Barcelona) had good results in recent games.” “But the level of competitiveness in the league means that fewer points are needed to win the league. For Atlético, us and Barcelona, this means more uncertainty and the points needed (to win the league) will be less than 90 .”
Ancelotti did not comment on Barcelona’s problems registering star player Dani Olmo for the second half of the La Liga season.
“I don’t know the details,” he said. “What I can say is that I respect all clubs, organizations and rules, but I can’t answer that.”
