Ancelotti set to snub Real

Milan coach Carlos Ancelotti will not be taking up the job as manager of Real Madrid next season, as had been widely rumoured.

The Italian had been Madrid's first choice candidate for the job of leading the team out of their run of three consecutive years without silverware, but he seems set to remain with Milan next season.

It is thought Ancelotti had already signed an agreement with the Spanish giants to join them in the summer, though Madrid will now have to turn their attentions elsewhere.

Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, Getafe manager Bernd Schuster, Vicente del Bosque as well as current England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson.

The search, though, is likely to be put on hold for two months, along with most other major activities at the club. Elections are due in July for a new President, who will then be in charge of appointing a new manager. Only after then, are big name signings and even big name exits likely to happen.

The current crisis in which the club finds itself also means the Sporting directors, Benito Floro, as well as Emilio Butragueño and Ramon Martinez are effectively powerless to take any decisions regarding signings or sales.

Floro, however, put the likelihood of Madrid signing its number one transfer target, Thierry Henry, into perspective.

"When he was 25 years old, coming to Madrid didn't seem to him to be the best option," Floro said. "If he didn't have this desire back then, is he really going to have it now?"

The Spanish Football League has proposed an alternative solution to FIFA in a bid to resolve the current fixture crisis.

A meeting of representatives from 14 of the 20 Primera Division clubs took place on Monday in order to finalise dates for the remaining league fixtures.

The problem was caused by a sudden downpour just one hour prior to Sevilla's home game against Barcelona three weeks ago forcing the match to be postponed and causing a major fixture headache.

The fact that Sevilla have qualified for the UEFA Cup Final, being held on Wednesday 10 May and that Barcelona have qualified for the Champions League Final the following week means it is almost inevitable the Spanish domestic season will overrun.

This has incurred the wrath of FIFA, who refused the League's initial proposal of rescheduling the entire final round of league games for after the Champions League Final due to the World Cup beginning on June 9.

It now seems certain Barcelona's final league game against Athletic Bilbao will be put back until after the Champions League final, and Sevilla could potentially find itself faced with three games in the space of five days – a situation that could damage their bid to qualify for the Champions League next year.

Villarreal right-back Javi Venta's name has been added to the long list of those linked with moves to Atlético Madrid this summer.

The 30 year-old has been a revelation for Villarreal this season in their run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, and is reportedly seen by Atlético as an alternative should the purchase of Greek right-back Georgios Seitaridis fail to materialise.

Villarreal may be tempted to cash in on the player, as they have a ready-made replacement in former Liverpool defender Josemi. Venta himself is seemingly keen on a move.

"They are rumours, and nobody has told me anything yet," said Venta on Monday. "But Atlético are the third biggest club in Spain and it's an honour that they should be interested."

Venta still has two years remaining on his current contract at El Madrigal but revealed: "I am very happy here in Villarreal, but I recognise that if Atlético's interest is genuine, I would be very happy to play there. It would be wonderful."