Ancelotti denies Real approach

Former Juventus boss Carlo Ancelotti has denied that he is preparing to succeed Vicente Del Bosque as coach of Real Madrid.

Ancelotti is in the Spanish capital to watch this evening's Champions League game between Real and Lokomotiv Moscow, but he denies that his presence is anything to do with a possible future with The Merengues.

According to Ancelotti, newspaper reports linking him to the eight-times European champions are wide of the mark, although he admitted that he would be interested in the job if it ever became available to him.

"I know nothing of Real's interest in me...unfortunately! Real are a dream team and everyone would like to be their manager," said Ancelotti.

Del Bosque has been the subject of constant criticism after his team got off to a poor start to the new season, but Ancelotti is insistant that he is not preparing to replace 50-year-old at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite distancing himself from the Real job, Ancelotti admitted recently that the chances of him making a return to coaching a top-level club were increasing. The former Roma and AC Milan player has been suggested as a possible replacement for under-pressure Lazio boss Dino Zoff.