Ancelotti ready to fight for his future at Real Madrid and hopes El Clasico can be a turning point

Carlo Ancelotti has announced that he wants to stay at Real Madrid 'for the rest of my life' ahead of a Clasico which could have major repercussions on his future at the club.

The former Milan, Bayern Munich and Chelsea boss signed a three-year contract when he arrived from Everton in June 2021 to replace Zinedine Zidane.

However, if Madrid end this season empty-handed, there will inevitably be doubts as to whether the Italian should stay in charge.

They won the Champions League and La Liga last season, and remain firmly in search of a European title defense, having reached the quarter-finals, where Chelsea await them.

However, if they lose to Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Sunday, Madrid will be 12 points behind their fierce rivals with 12 rounds of La Liga fixtures remaining. They also trail the Catalans 1-0 after the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.

Ancelotti realizes there is no guarantee Madrid will let him finish his contract until 2024, especially if he finishes this campaign without silverware, but he believes his side can finish the season in beauty and reverse the narrative.

"It's an assessment that the club has to make. I would stay at this club for the rest of my life," Ancelotti said. "It's impossible, but I would like to. It's a decision of the club, and it will be taken at the end of the season.

"I think I want to continue, I hope that's how it is. But I'm enjoying every day the club wants me here. If you want it to be for three months, I'll enjoy it; if it's for three years, the same. What is clear is that I will be grateful for the rest of my life."

63-year-old Ancelotti also led Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain in a glittering career, and Madrid would be hard pressed to find a more authoritative figure. This is his second spell at the club, with Madrid president Florentino Perez a keen admirer.