Ancelotti says Lewandowski is staying at Bayern amid Real Madrid link

Munich - Incoming Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti insisted on Wednesday that he would not allow key striker Robert Lewandowski to leave the German champions for Real Madrid.

Italian Ancelotti, who led Real to its 10th European crown in 2014, took over at the Allianz Arena from Pep Guardiola, who left for Manchester City at the end of the past season.

Media reports in the last month have speculated that Lewandowski, who has been the Bundesliga's top scorer in two of the last three seasons, was close to moving to the Spanish capital, but Ancelotti is confident of keeping the Pole in Bavaria.

"Real Madrid have many fantastic players, including Benzema, Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, Real don't even need Lewandowski," Ancelotti told German sports daily Sportbild.

"And even if they did, Bayern would not sell Lewandowski. Why should we let go one of the best strikers in the world voluntarily?"

Bayern faces Real Madrid in a friendly in the United States on Aug. 4.