Carlo Ancelotti made an emotional return to Valdebebas on Thursday, greeting Jose Mourinho and the Real Madrid squad hours before their La Liga trip to Real Betis. The Brazil head coach, who steered Los Blancos across two spells between 2013-2015 and 2021-2025, dropped by the Ciudad Real Madrid training ground for a warm reunion with players and staff. The Carlo Ancelotti Real Madrid return comes amid a busy week, with the Champions League opener against Inter Milan also looming.
Carlo Ancelotti Real Madrid Reunion Sparks Nostalgia
The Italian, the most decorated coach in Real Madrid history, could not hide his affection for the club during the visit. Speaking about his bond with Los Blancos, Ancelotti said: “Real Madrid is my club, my home and my family; it’s everything.”
“I spent wonderful times here and have unforgettable memories. I’ve turned from a coach into a Real Madrid fan, one of its biggest supporters. Whenever Real Madrid plays, you’ll always find me watching the match in front of the screen,” he added.
The Carlo Ancelotti Real Madrid reunion also saw him check in on injured Brazilian stars Endrick, Rodrygo and Eder Militao, closely observing their individual recovery session.
El reencuentro de Carlo Ancelotti con la plantilla del Real Madrid.
Estoy llorando 🥹😍🤍 pic.twitter.com/Rj5tCSkzzk
— (fan) REAL MADRID FANS 🤍 (@AdriRM33) September 3, 2026
Ancelotti Praises Jose Mourinho, Greets Mbappe and Vinicius
Ancelotti shared a cordial exchange with Jose Mourinho, the club’s current manager, who had earlier lavished praise on his predecessor, calling him a coach without weaknesses.
Reciprocating the respect, Ancelotti backed Jose Mourinho’s tenure, stating: “Mourinho is a great COACH, I’m convinced he’s going to do a great job here.”
The 67-year-old also embraced familiar faces from his last squad, including Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Thibaut Courtois and Federico Valverde, several of whom he had personally guided to a fifteenth Champions League crown.
Ancelotti’s visit to his former club came on the eve of Real Betis vs Real Madrid clash with Betis at La Cartuja, kicking off at 21:00 local time, with Mourinho’s men chasing a fourth straight LaLiga win of the 2026-27 season.
