Real Madrid has the option of providing athletes with vacations during the season, according to Ancelotti

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his apprehension regarding the congested fixture schedule on Saturday, stating that the club is contemplating the possibility of permitting players to take brief breaks during the season.

Ancelotti announced on the eve of their LaLiga season début at Mallorca that the players were feeling the effects of the escalating number of regional and international games on the calendar.

On Saturday, Ancelotti stated at a news conference, “The players require rest and holidays, and we are contemplating the possibility of providing them with individual breaks throughout the season.”

We are contemplating the possibility of providing in-season breaks, which would allow players to spend a week with their families. This would be particularly beneficial for international players, who typically receive only a day’s vacation during international breaks.

“We are assessing it with the medical staff and the physical preparation…”

Ancelotti is of the opinion that the club must make sacrifices in order to maintain the health and fitness of their players, having won the LaLiga and Champions League double last season and now attempting to win up to seven titles in the 2024-25 campaign.

He indicated that his staff was already considering the 2025-26 season, as the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States would place additional demands on international players in June and July.

Upon their victory over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, Real Madrid will participate in the Spanish Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, and LaLiga in Saudi Arabia, as well as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the new FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

Currently, we are unaware of the date of the Club World Cup, as well as the Intercontinental Cup. Ancelotti stated, “We are currently in the process of bidding for seven titles; however, we are uncertain as to the timing and method”.

“Due to the World Cup, the 2025-26 season may commence earlier than anticipated. Consequently, we must adjust our course of action for the current season.”

Vinicius Jr., for instance, refrains from participating in LaLiga upon his return from his international duties with Brazil. Instead, he takes a three- to four-day break, embarks on a vacation, and then returns to the match.

“That can be the sole solution.” Under normal circumstances, these athletes engage in training, regardless of whether they are currently participating. However, we will eliminate that restriction and allow them to pursue their choices on those days. It is our intention to execute this course of action.

For the past few years, the overcrowded calendar has been a topic of passionate debate and concern in the world of soccer. In May, the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) informed the regulating body of world soccer, FIFA, that they were prepared to resort to a strike due to their apprehensions regarding the overburdened playing calendar.

If FIFA persists in expanding tournaments and establishing new competitions, the PFA, the World Leagues Association (WLA), and the global players’ union FIFPRO have threatened to pursue legal action.