Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has denied reports that Angel Di Maria was left out of Friday's Spanish Super Cup 1-0 second leg defeat at Atletico Madrid because the Manchester United target is about to leave the La Liga club.
But the Blancos boss did admit that Sami Khedira -- who might
also be of interest to the Old Trafford outfit as well as fellow Premier
League club Arsenal -- was being allowed to leave the Estadio Santiago
Bernabeu.
Ancelotti was speaking after a lacklustre Madrid side were outbattled
and outplayed by a super-spirited Atletico team, who went ahead early
through new centre-forward Mario Mandzukic and deserved to hold on to
win 2-1 on aggregate even after coach Diego Simeone was sent to the
stands.
The Italian coach told his post-match news conference that it had
been a sporting decision not to include Di Maria in his 18-man squad,
but Khedira had not been selected as he was close to leaving the club.
"It was a technical decision not to play Di Maria," Ancelotti said.
"I did not need him today. Khedira has permission to leave. I am not
interested in where he goes."
Some speculation has suggested that Madrid might use any money raised
through player sales to sign another centre-forward -- with Monaco's
Radamel Falcao a long-time favourite of club president Florentino Perez.
However Ancelotti said he did not want another No. 9 as he was happy
with current striker Karim Benzema, despite the French international
having now scored just once in his last 15 club games.
"I am very happy with Benzema," Ancelotti said. "Although he did not
score he is useful for the team. We do not need another solution at
centre-forward."
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