Bad news for the Brazilian national team. Real Madrid is preparing to part ways with Carlo Ancelotti. They want to finalize all negotiations in December.
Spanish outlet Relevo reported on Monday (December 28) that “Real Madrid want to conclude contract talks with Ancelotti before Christmas. Real Madrid want to sign a two-year contract with the coach.”
Ancelotti had been in charge of Everton until 2021, when he answered the call to Real Madrid. He was tasked with rebuilding a team that had faltered under Zinedine Zidane, and he did so by maximizing their resources and getting them back on track.
Real Madrid made the right decision. Ancelotti unleashed the potential of a young squad centered around the goalscoring prowess of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, as well as the likes of Vinicius and Hodriguez. Despite a tendency to rely on veterans, the club won the European title in 2022-23, reaching the UEFA Champions League final and defeating Liverpool.
Benzema’s departure to Saudi Arabia at the end of the 2022-23 season left a gaping hole in the team’s scoring options. Joselu was brought in, but he’s not quite as competitive as Benzema. However, Ancelotti opted for a tactic that had worked for him in the past at AC Milan, giving the ‘next Zidane’, Judd Bellingham, an attacking midfield role.
When Bellingham’s tactics suited him, he was dominant. It was a step up from the defensive midfielder he played at Dortmund. Scored his 14th goal in his 15th game since joining Real Madrid, netting a goal in the 14th round of the 2023-24 Spanish Primera Liga at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandía in Cádiz, Spain.
He made history by surpassing Real Madrid legends Alfredo Di Stefano and Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 13 goals in his first 15 seasons with the club, a feat that was well worth the €130 million (approx. KRW15 billion) transfer fee. The win over Cádiz helped Real Madrid leapfrog Girona to the top of the league.
Real Madrid have been pretty encouraging under Ancelotti’s leadership. There was no talk of renewing his contract, but they recently decided to keep him for two more seasons.
The reason: the love for Ancelotti. British public broadcasters BBC and Sky Sports have reported that “the Brazilian national team is considering the appointment of Ancelotti”.
The Brazilians have been in love with Ancelotti since the World Cup in Qatar, but they wanted to bring him back at the end of his tenure at Real Madrid. That’s why Diniz was given the interim job.
However, according to Relevo, Ancelotti is more inclined to stay at Real Madrid. The Brazilian national team is waiting for him, but at this rate, his plans to take over next summer could be in jeopardy.
If Ancelotti is fully committed to Real Madrid, the national team will need to start looking for a new coach quickly. Since Neymar’s departure, the team has fallen into crisis mode under interim coach Diniz, losing three consecutive World Cup qualifiers for the first time in history and slipping to fifth place in South American qualifying.
Of course, some have linked Ancelotti to Manchester United. “Manchester United have offered Ancelotti the manager’s job for next season,” Spanish radio station Copa reported.
Manchester United handed the reins to Eric ten Hague for the 2021-22 season. In his first season, Van Gaal led the club to a third-place finish in the Premier League, a UEFA Champions League spot, and a League Cup win for the first time in six years.
Expectations were high for his second season, but it hasn’t gone as planned. Curious signings didn’t quite fit into Van Gaal’s tactics, and a string of injuries to first-team players left the team struggling for depth. They’ve picked things up a bit recently and are sixth in the Premier League, looking to break into the top four.