Carlo Ancelotti: I turned down Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United to manage Real Madrid

The Italian claims Sir Alex Ferguson, who was then manager of the Premier League side, invited him to lunch in Paris to talk about succeeding him at Old Trafford.

However, the three-time Champions League winner, who will succeed Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich next season, said he had to turn down United because he “had to go to Madrid”.

"[It was] a nice lunch. Alex chose the wine, really expensive," the former AC Milan and Chelsea manager told The Times. "[But] I had already spoken to Real Madrid. For the experience, a manager has to go to Madrid.

Ferguson was eventually replaced by David Moyes in the Old Trafford dugout but the Scot lasted less than a season before he was sacked. Speculation also surrounds current incumbent Louis van Gaal after a poor season by United’s recent standards.

But Ancelotti, who has taken a sabbatical from football following his sacking by Real Madrid in 2015, insists that the hire-and-fire culture is simply part of modern football.

"At Chelsea I won the double. Sacked. At Real Madrid I won La Decima. Sacked," he added.

Ferguson was sacked, [Marcelo] Lippi sacked, [Fabio] Capello sacked, [Jose] Mourinho sacked, [Rafael] Benitez.

"The only one not sacked is Guardiola, but he's still really young. He has plenty of time. One day he will come into our club, the Sack Club."

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