Ferrero: "I do not close the door to working with Carlos again"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 24 Dec 2025 | 09.00

Ferrero: "I do not close the door to working with Carlos again". Photo: Getty Images

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One week after news that shocked the tennis world, Juan Carlos Ferrero has broken his silence. Beyond his social media post confirming the end of his relationship with Carlos Alcaraz, where he wrote "I would have liked to continue," sparking speculation, the Valencian had not spoken up until now.

After a few days to process everything that happened, Juan Carlos Ferrero opened up in a deep interview with Marca where he discussed the reasons for the split, his desire to continue, the transition to Samu López, and also denied ever forcing Carlos Alcaraz to train exclusively at his academy in Villena. The coach also stated that he needs time to come to terms with what happened and praised the game of his former pupil of seven years.

Juan Carlos Ferrero breaks his silence a week after his split with Carlos Alcaraz

As reported throughout the week, Ferrero confirmed there were disagreements when it came to signing a new contract: "Everything seemed to be going well. It's true that when a year ends, certain contract matters need to be discussed, typical in any new contract for the following year. There were certain disagreements, as in any contract, where each side pulls in different directions."

He also lamented not taking a pause to mend their differences: "Carlos' entourage thinks about what's best for him, and I think about what's best for me. There were issues where both sides didn’t see eye to eye. Perhaps if we had sat down to talk, we could have resolved them, but we never did and decided not to continue. That's what really happened."

He made it clear in his social media statement and reiterated in the interview: he wanted to continue, and at no point did he think he wouldn't be Alcaraz's coach in 2026 until the disagreement occurred: "The year had been very successful in terms of results, and the relationship between us had been spectacular all year. We hadn't had any fights. Samuel's arrival brought a fresh energy to the team, potentially ensuring a future for the relationship. It had been a very good year, and after finishing in Turin, we all had the idea of continuing. Then things took a turn, leading us to separate paths. Initially, the plan was to continue, which is why I stated that in my message."

In fact, the situation was so unexpected that the Valencian had already planned the entire preseason with the Murcian, and unlike last year, this season was set for a trip to Australia. This sudden change in plans may impact Alcaraz's short-term performance.

"Obviously, such unexpected changes are always challenging. Tennis-wise, I believe Carlos can overcome this and head to Australia in very good form, trying to set aside this situation. Samuel is someone who knows him very well. Having spent so much time with me during our training sessions at the academy and gaining ample experience over the last year to lead as head coach independently."

Returning to the disagreement that led to the split, Ferrero is clear on two points: it wasn't about money nor was it a demand from his academy. "From a young age, I demonstrated that money wasn't my top priority. It has been mentioned that I asked for more, and it's true that they always had a generous arrangement with me, granting a significant percentage for those first years when I worked closely with him. I appreciate that. I tried to make it clear that money wasn't a problem nor the reason I engaged in this project."

He does, however, emphasize that concerning the academies, "I reject some of the claims made that I insisted on him coming to Villena or that he had to adapt to me. That wasn't the case. Over the past two years, we gradually understood that due to the demands of the circuit, Carlos wanted to spend more time at home. Therefore, it was up to us to move around. We offered the academy for training whenever necessary, but it was never a requirement. Never. That's something I want to make clear."

Nevertheless, he acknowledges that some wear and tear was inevitable, which led him to introduce Samu López into the team: "Wear and tear is natural when you spend so much time together. I think constant traveling, being away from home, those things wear you down. However, we supported each other within the team, and one reason for bringing in Samuel was to prevent that strain, introducing new perspectives and approaches with the same goal but in a different manner to counteract potential fatigue."

He also mentioned discussing with Alcaraz before the events unfolded but then stated, "I spoke with the people I needed to talk to." This confirms that the world number one didn't decide to part ways.

Ferrero mentions receiving coaching offers but asserts it's not the right time: "I want peace of mind, and I have emotions; right now, it would be impossible." What he is certain of is not ruling out returning to lead Carlos Alcaraz's team in the future.

"I don't close the door on working with Carlos again. Considering the relationship we've had, definitively shutting that door wouldn't be logical, neither with him nor the team. I want to end things on good terms with them. Disagreement on some points doesn't mean we can't remain friends or maintain a good relationship. I wish Carlos the best and believe he has the potential to be the best tennis player in history. I've said this on numerous occasions. Although I won't be there, he has people around him who can prepare him very well," states a Juan Carlos Ferrero still feeling the pain of the separation from Carlos Alcaraz. Now he needs a break, but in the future, he doesn't rule out rekindling their partnership, which yielded six Grand Slams, 24 ATP titles, and the youngest world number one titleholder in history.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ferrero: "No cierro la puerta a volver a trabajar con Carlos"