Carlo Ancelotti, the ultimate club statesman, put a rare foot out of place when the topic of the2025 FIFA Club World Cup came up last summer.
Real Madrid's manager surprisingly admitted in an interview that his team would "refuse the invitation" for the new-fangled competition as the prize money on offer was too insignificant.
The club hurriedly published an official statement insisting that they would be part of the tournament before Ancelotti posted a sheepish message on social media claiming that his words had "not been interpreted in the way I expected".
Whether he likes it or not, Ancelotti will be leading his side out at the 32-team event in Miami in June. Madrid, as two-time European champions in the last three years, will be in Pot 1 alongside the other top seeds - three others from Europe and four from South America.
However, there is still potential for some tricky fixtures in the group stage of the competition. Here are Madrid's possible opponents ahead of Thursday's draw to decide all eight groups of four.
Angel Di Maria
Former Real Madrid playmaker Angel Di Maria is still turning out for Benfica / Jonathan Moscrop/GettyImages
Simply plucking random names out of a hat would be far too simple for the powers that be at FIFA. Football's global governing body with a deserved reputation for corruption have openly rigged the upcoming draw to ensure that the elite teams from Europe and South America do not meet too early in the competition.
In order to avoid meeting another UEFA heavyweight in the first knockout round after the group stages, Madrid can only face a select number of clubs from Pot 2. This rules out a potential clash with Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Inter or Porto.
Atletico Madrid can't go up against their city rivals as clubs from the same association will be kept apart, leaving Madrid with three options; Benfica, Juventus and Red Bull Salzburg.
Salzburg are comfortably the weakest of that trio having fallen off the pace in the Champions League and - for the first time since the energy drink era began - on the domestic scene.
While a clash with Juventus is an enticing historical matchup, Benfica boast the creative might of former Madrid playmaker Angel Di Maria.
Potential opponent Path
Benfica UEFA four-year ranking
Juventus UEFA four-year ranking
Red Bull Salzburg UEFA four-year ranking
Al-Hilal v Al-Ettifaq: Saudi Pro League
Aleksandar Mitrovic needed just 65 games to score his first 60 goals for Al Hilal / Yasser Bakhsh/GettyImages
Pitting clubs from different corners of the world against one another is not a new concept. The Intercontinental Cup ran for more than four decades after the inaugural edition in 1960 saw Real Madrid, as the European champions, face then South American champions, Penarol of Uruguay.
Madrid were the joint-record winners of that now-defunct competition, an honour they share with Argentine giants Boca Juniors. The legendary teams could face each other in the latest iteration of this global affair.
Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal don't have quite the same illustrious international history as Madrid or Boca, but they certainly have thrown around enough money to compete with those teams.
Since the summer of 2023, the Riyadh outfit have splashed more than £390m on the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves and the vague idea of Neymar. Real Madrid have spent less than half as much, but should still be favourites against any Pot 3 opponent.
Potential opponent Path
Botafogo (BRA) 2024 Copa Libertadores winner
Monterrey (MEX) 2021 CONCACAF Champions League winner
Leon (MEX) 2023 CONCACAF Champions League winner
Al Hilal (KSA) 2021 AFC Champions League winner
Al Ahly (EGY) 2020/21 CAF Champions League winner
Wydad AC (MOR) 2021/22 CAF Champions League winner
Boca Juniors (ARG) CONMEBOL four-year ranking
Ulsan HD (KOR) AFC four-year ranking
Lionel Messi, Toni Kroos, Daniel Carvajal
Lionel Messi has a brilliant record against Real Madrid / Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/GettyImages
Given the commercial revenue on offer from a fixture involving Lionel Messi, almost every club will want to pull Inter Miami out of Pot 4. Real Madrid, however, may want to avoid the Argentine.
Messi has either scored or created 40 goals in 47 appearances against Madrid. The Barcelona icon is the most prolific player in the history of El Clasico, with eight more goals than any of the other legendary individuals to have graced that fixture. Miami have created their own Barcelona enclave, with Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba all managed by Javier Mascherano.
Mexican outfit Pachuca boast Salomon Rondon. The veteran Venezuelan is one of only two Premier League players to have scored a hat-trick of headers in a single game, but doesn't have quite the same lofty reputation as Messi (for most).
Potential opponent Path
Seattle Sounders FC (USA) 2022 CONCACAF Champions League winner
Pachuca (MEX) 2024 CONCACAF Champions League winner
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2022 AFC Champions League winner
Al Ain (UAE) 2023/24 AFC Champions League winner
Esperance de Tunis (TUN) CAF four-year ranking
Mamelodi Sundowns (ZAF) CAF four-year ranking
Auckland City (NZL) OFC four-year ranking
Inter Miami CF (USA) Hosts
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