MILAN, June 25 - AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday he was tempted to leave for Real Madrid last year.

Real appointed Fabio Capello instead in July after the Italian quit Juventus ahead of their demotion for match-fixing, while Ancelotti went on to lead Milan to their seventh European Cup triumph.

"Last year with Real Madrid there was a good feeling," Ancelotti told Sky Sport. "But my affection (for Milan) prevailed and I stayed."

Capello helped Real win their first Spanish title in four years but his future at the Bernabeu is still in doubt.

Real pipped rivals Barcelona to the title, prompting the Catalans to agree a fee for Arsenal striker and Milan target Thierry Henry.

"The Spanish clubs have an advantage from a tax point of view," Ancelotti added, referring to Barca's ability to pay Henry more.

Milan, who missed out on Cagliari striker David Suazo after an unseemly battle with city rivals Inter, hope Henry's arrival at the Nou Camp will force Samuel Eto'o or Ronaldinho to leave.

Barca though have said they will not sell either of them to Milan and Ancelotti is preparing for next season with his existing strikers.

"We won the Champions League without Ronaldo (who was cup-tied), and this year we will have him," he said.