“I didn't speak to them” - Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti shuts down rumours of contact with England FA over permanent coaching role 

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed suggestions that he held talks to become the next England manager. The Italian was linked with the England job before they appointed Thomas Tuchel for the position.

In the press conference ahead of Real Madrid's clash with Celta Vigo, Ancelotti was quizzed about the rumors that linked him with the England job. He was quick to dismiss the talks and said (via Yahoo Sport):

"Nothing with the English Federation. For me, they've hired a very good manager, tactically very strong. Good luck to him."

Gary Lineker claimed earlier this week that the FA had held talks with Ancelotti while also showing interest in Pep Guardiola. He said on his podcast, The Rest Is Football (via Managing Madrid):

"I genuinely believe that national team football, particularly with the big nations, should have a coach from the same country. It's confirmed apparently that they did reach out in the summer to Pep Guardiola. And also I understand that they spoke to Carlo Ancelotti."

Ancelotti was also linked with the Brazil job last summer but the Italian has stayed with Real Madrid. England have appointed Thomas Tuchel as their new manager earlier this week and he will take charge from January 1, 2025.

England were urged to appoint Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti by pundit

Football pundit Adrian Durham, on talkSPORT earlier this year, urged the FA to appoint Carlo Ancelotti as the England manager. He claimed that the former Chelsea and Everton manager could give fans the type of football they wanted.

He also suggested that Ancelotti could get the best out of Bellingham for the Three Lions and said:

"I was presenting [Kick Off on talkSPORT] last night when we were reviewing the tournament and I just mentioned about Ancelotti's relationship with Jude Bellingham. And it felt like that's the answer, suddenly it clicked in my head. To get the very best out of our very best player Jude Bellingham, do you not have an elite coach? So why don't we look at that and think, 'Hang on a minute, should we set those kind of standards that Jude Bellingham expects?'

"And therefore that will raise everybody around him, all the players, all staff around him, and do we appoint somebody like Carlo Ancelotti. The fact that he's worked at Chelsea and Everton tells me that there's a little bit of English in him anyway, so that will do me."