"The deadline for a reply is Wednesday, June 3," Galliani told journalists after meeting with the 55-year-old Italian at Madrid's Wellington Hotel.

"I'll make my decision soon," Ancelotti confirmed, adding that he had "always gotten on well with Galliani".

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As for the "sabbatical year" that Ancelotti had said he was considering after his sacking, he added simply "we'll see". "Carlo wanted to take a year out, we're hoping to convince him to accept Milan," said Galliani, whose side are tenth in the Serie A with one match left this season.

"He still has some days to think about it, he told me the chances were 50-50."

The affable coach had said last weekend he would either stay at Real Madrid or take a year off to undergo surgery on a worsening and urgent health problem.