As speculation about Carlo Ancelotti's future with Real Madrid mounts, the veteran manager has set a deadline to discuss his plans after Real Madrid's final La Liga fixture.

The 65-year-old Italian tactician, linked to the high-profile Brazil coaching job, still has a year left on his Real Madrid contract.

His priority at the moment is to reduce the seven-point gap with Barcelona in La Liga in the remaining five matches to stand a chance of winning the league. Earlier, Real Madrid lost the Copa del Rey final to Barcelona.

Ancelotti has been under tremendous pressure since Real Madrid failed to reach the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League following their 1-2 defeat to Arsenal in the second leg. Real Madrid lost to Arsenal 1-5 on aggregate.

"I have a lot of affection for my club, my players and our fans, and also a lot of respect," Ancelotti said to journalists before Real Madrid's Sunday game against Celta Vigo. "So I will speak about my future on the 25th (of May) and not before."

Real Madrid will play their final La Liga game against Real Sociedad on May 25, after which they travel to the United States for the Club World Cup commencing June 14.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, indicated his eventual departure from Madrid, saying it would be "fantastic goodbye".

"It will be a fantastic goodbye, because I have a lot of affection for the club and it does for me too, I will never fight or argue with the club," the manager stated.

"Never have I done so in six years and I never will, I will not let myself, until the last day, which could be the 25th, which could be in 2025, or it could be the 25th of May 2026, or 2030.

"That I do not know, but whichever day it is, it will be a very beautiful day." Ancelotti's Real Madrid career, spanning 2013-15 and resuming in 2021, has yielded three Champions League victories and two La Liga titles.

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