Real Madrid remain “delighted” with head coach Carlo Ancelotti despite consistent rumours about his future, according to club legend Emilio Butragueno.

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Reports have suggested that Los Blancos are looking to make a change this summer after a patchy recent run. This saw them scrape through against Schalke to the Champions League quarter-finals and lose their La Liga leadership after a poor spell, which ended in dramatic fashion on Sunday when they thrashed Granada 9-1.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid Castilla boss and former star midfielder Zinedine  Zidane is also waiting in the wings as he is groomed for the top job.

But speaking in Dubai at the announcement of the new Middle East and North Africa tie up with NIVEA MEN, Real director Butragueno – who won 16 trophies during 11 hugely-successful years with Real’s first team – rejected any talk that a switch in leadership could occur.

He said: “Carlo is a fantastic coach. He has been very successful in Italy, England, France and Spain as well.

“We won with him the 10th European Cup, La Decima, last year. He is a fantastic coach and we are delighted with him.”

After tonight’s La Liga trip to Rayo Vallecano, Real’s attentions will swiftly turn to a derby with Atletico in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the team they beat in last year’s final to clinch a 10th title, the fabled ‘La Decima’.

“The Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in the world,” Butragueno added.

“We are so famous worldwide because of our Champions League record. We know it is going to be very difficult [against Atletico]. But, here we are in the quarter-finals and we have a great team with talented players. We will do our best to achieve this great goal.”

Real have ever-increasing commerical ties with the UAE. Emirates’ name is emblazoned on the club’s shirt, while the Government of Abu Dhabi’s IPIC (International Petroleum Investment Company) are funding work on the club’s Bernabeu home with naming rights part of the deal.

“Football has grown tremendously here,” said Butragueno. “This is important to us, as our fanbase has grown a lot here as well. This deal with NIVEA has to do with forging bigger bonds with the region.”