Football
Reuters 17y

Soccer-Ancelotti was tempted by Real job last year

MILAN, June 25 - AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti
said on Monday he was tempted to leave for Real Madrid last
year.

Real appointed Fabio Capello instead in July after the
Italian quit Juventus ahead of their demotion for match-fixing,
while Ancelotti went on to lead Milan to their seventh European
Cup triumph.

"Last year with Real Madrid there was a good feeling,"
Ancelotti told Sky Sport. "But my affection (for Milan)
prevailed and I stayed."

Capello helped Real win their first Spanish title in four
years but his future at the Bernabeu is still in doubt.

Real pipped rivals Barcelona to the title, prompting the
Catalans to agree a fee for Arsenal striker and Milan target
Thierry Henry.

"The Spanish clubs have an advantage from a tax point of
view," Ancelotti added, referring to Real's ability to pay Henry
more.

Milan, who missed out on Cagliari striker David Suazo after
an unseemly battle with city rivals Inter, hope Henry's arrival
at the Nou Camp will force Samuel Eto'o or Ronaldinho to leave.

Barca though have said they will not sell either of them to
Milan and Ancelotti is preparing for next season with his
existing strikers.

"We won the Champions League without Ronaldo (who was
cup-tied), and this year we will have him," he said.

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