Ancelotti drops Madrid move hint

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AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has left the door open for a potential summer move to Real Madrid.

Ancelotti has been heavily linked with both Real and Chelsea should his lengthy tenure at the San Siro finish at the end of the season.

Reports in Italy suggest Ancelotti will be sacked should Milan fail to secure Champions League football for next season, but the coach himself has dropped a hint that he could end up in Spain come what may.

Real are currently coached by Juande Ramos on an interim basis until the end of the season.

"Real Madrid? Whatever will happen, will happen," Ancelotti said.

"I do like the fact that (likely new and returning president) Florentino Perez has a soft spot for me."

Meanwhile, Barcelona president Joan Laporta is refusing to contemplate winning the treble this season.

The Catalan giants are hot favourites to win La Liga as they have built a six-point lead over their nearest challengers.

Barcelona are also in the latter stages of the Champions League and Copa del Rey, but the club chief is refusing to get carried away by thoughts of a trophy-laden campaign.

"We are enjoying a good run now, but the season is far from over and we must remain prudent," he said.

"What is important is that we continue to show we are the team to beat and that we are back to our best.

"But I have not dreamt about Rome (Champions League Final venue) or about winning the treble.

"The best thing to do is to not put pressure on the team. We are motivated enough just to be alive in all three competitions."

Elsewhere, defender Carlos Marchena is adamant that Valencia will snap out of their recent malaise and secure Champions League football for next season.

Los Che are now five points adrift of the top four after only managing to draw against Recreativo Huelva on Sunday and UEFA Cup qualification now appears a more realistic target.

But Marchena still believes they can end the season inside La Liga's top four.

"The Champions League is still within reach for us," he claimed.

"Nothing is impossible and there are a lot of games to play for and the points difference isn't that big.

"Of course there are a group of other teams who are all chasing the same thing as we are.

"But we cannot give up and we must try with all our might."