Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has refuted rumors suggesting that he requested the return of Karim Benzema to the club. Benzema, who left the Bernabeu after 14 years last summer, joined Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League. The 36-year-old, however, seems unsettled in Saudi Arabia and desires a return to Europe. Dismissing reports of his involvement in Benzema’s potential return, Ancelotti clarified in a news conference that there have been no discussions with the club regarding such a move.
Additionally, Ancelotti addressed Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s assertion that LaLiga is “corrupted” and implied that Real Madrid receives favorable treatment from match officials. This follows Madrid benefiting from three VAR interventions in their recent 3-2 victory over Almería, sparking controversy. Ancelotti dismissed Laporta’s claim, stating, “LaLiga is not corrupted,” and opted not to delve into the ongoing controversies.
The coach also alluded to the Negreira case, a situation involving Barcelona and Laporta, where they face charges of alleged corruption and bribery related to payments made to former vice president of the Spanish refereeing committee, Jose María Enriquez Negreira. Ancelotti emphasized the need to allow authorities and the Spanish Civil Guard to conduct investigations and address the issues within Spanish football, refraining from commenting further on the matter.
Shifting focus to on-field events, Ancelotti discussed Real Madrid’s resilience in reclaiming the top spot in LaLiga through comeback victories.
Meanwhile, in English football, the FA Cup witnessed surprises as Maidstone United upset Ipswich Town 2-1 in the fourth round, and Manchester United progressed to the fifth round with a win against Newport County. Liverpool began their farewell to Jurgen Klopp at Anfield with a victory over Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth round.
Across Europe, Barcelona experienced a dramatic 5-3 defeat after coming back from a 2-0 deficit against Villarreal, while Bayern Munich secured a 3-2 win against Augsburg, with Harry Kane on the scoresheet.
In women’s football, Chelsea dominated Brighton in the Women’s Super League, with Lauren James scoring twice. The weekend also featured noteworthy incidents, including a pitch invader disrupting play in England’s League One.
As the football landscape continues to unfold with intriguing developments and unexpected outcomes, the actions on and off the field provide fans with a mix of excitement and controversy, shaping the narrative of the sport across various leagues and competitions.
