Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has denied that he wants to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club.
Spanish late-night TV show El Chiringueto claimed on Monday night that a sensational return for the forward was in the cards three years after signing for Juventus.
"Cristiano is a Real Madrid legend and I have all my love and respect for him," Ancelotti tweeted on Tuesday. "I never considered signing him. We look forward."
Cristiano es una leyenda del Real Madrid y tiene todo mi cariño y respeto. Nunca me he planteado ficharle. Miramos hacia adelante. #HalaMadrid
— Carlo Ancelotti (@MrAncelotti) August 17, 2021
Ronaldo joined Juventus in July 2018 for €100 million after spending nine years at the Bernabeu, where he scored 451 goals - the most of any player in Real Madrid's history - and won four Champions Leagues.
He won Serie A in his first two seasons with Juventus, but the club finished fourth in the league in 2021 and were knocked out of the Champions League in the Round of 16.
This has led to speculation that Ronaldo and agent Jorge Mendes may try to make a move this summer, despite the player's contract with one year remaining.
El Chiringueto contributor Edu Aguirre, who is a friend of Ronaldo, said on Monday that "Carlo Ancelotti wants Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid. ... Ancelotti is pushing. He talked to his people. The relationship with Cristiano is wonderful." He wants her. Back.
"There is choice. Ancelotti started everything. It may or may not be there. There are many options."
That possibility appears to have been ruled out following Ancelotti's tweet, a rare move by the coach to comment on transfer speculation.
In April, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez also appeared to rule out a return for the Portugal international. "No, he has a contract at Juventus," he told El Chiringueto. "There would be no point in her coming back."
Ancelotti worked with Ronaldo for two seasons during his first stint as Real Madrid manager.
In that time he won the club's long-awaited 10th European Cup – beating rivals Atlético Madrid 4–1 after extra time in the 2014 Champions League final, Ronaldo fined late – before Ancelotti was sacked in 2015. .
The Italian was reappointed by Madrid in June on a three-year contract following the resignation of his predecessor Zinedine Zidane.
Madrid, who have signed David Alaba's only free transfer this summer, started the 2021-22 LaLiga season with a 4-1 win at Alves on Saturday, with Karim Benzema scoring twice.