Real Madrid News
Ancelotti expected to have full Real Madrid squad at his disposal on December 28 – report
At the start of the FIFA World Cup 2022 last month, Real Madrid had as many as 13 players travel to Qatar. And with the final set to be played in less than a week Los Blancos have two more players left active in the tournament.
Indeed, with Luka Modric’s Croatia losing to Argentina in the semi-finals last night, France duo Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga are the only two Real Madrid players alive at the World Cup.
As for the Los Blancos’ stars eliminated, they are slowly expected to rejoin training with the group that was not involved in the World Cup over the coming days as they gear up for the resumption of the season.
Real Madrid will restart the defence of their La Liga title on December 30 with an away tie at Estadio Jose Zorrilla where they will come up against Real Valladolid.
And, journalist Arancha Rodriguez (h/t RM4Arab), has revealed the dates on which the World Cup returnees are likely to rejoin training with the rest of the Real Madrid squad.
As per the update, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Antonio Rudiger and Federico Valverde, all of whom were eliminated at the group stages itself, are expected to return to training this Saturday (December 17).
Meanwhile, the Spanish duo of Dani Carvajal and Marco Asensio, who crashed out at the Round of 16 against Morocco, will be back training with the squad next Tuesday (December 20).
Meanwhile, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Eder Militao, who were quarter-finalists with Brazil, are expected back on December 26.
The last to arrive will be Modric, Camavinga, and Tchouameni, who are penned in for a return on December 28, just two days before Real Madrid play Valladolid.
Karim Benzema, who continues to remain on France’s squad list, has already resumed training after returning to the club due to a thigh injury he picked up last month. But, if Didier Deschamps wants, the striker could be recalled to Qatar for the finals should France qualify.
Real Madrid News
Ancelotti could renew contract with Real Madrid if he wins the Champions League – report
The continuity of Carlo Ancelotti hinges on several factors and journalist Mario Cortegana, while writing for The Athletic, has confirmed that if Real Madrid do not sack him at the end of the season, the Italian will continue to serve the team at least until his current contract, which runs until 2024.
Furthermore, the report also states that Ancelotti could even be handed a contract extension if he leads the team to the UEFA Champions League triumph once again.
It is more than evident that Ancelotti’s Real Madrid future is far from certain. Ever since the managerial role at the Brazilian national team opened up, the 63-year-old is being pursued by the South American team.
Cortegana writes that even though Ancelotti is quite happy at Real Madrid, there remains a possibility that he will, indeed, accept the Brazil role if he were to leave the Spanish capital city as he sees this job as an appealing end to his managerial career.
At Real Madrid, he knows that he will have to keep winning trophies and this season, the La Liga honour is more or less lost. But with the possibility of winning the UEFA Champions League still open, Cortegana has reported that if the Italian does, in fact, succeed at winning the European crown, he might end up renewing his deal with the team.
At the moment, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is trying to keep a respectful distance, but there is absolutely no denying the fact that they have made him their absolute priority.
“Ancelotti is not only the players’ favourite but it seems the fans’ too,” said CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues about Ancelotti.
“Everywhere I go in Brazil, in every stadium, he is the first name the supporters ask me about. They talk about him in a very affectionate way, in recognition of the exemplary work he has done in his career,” he added.
Ancelotti is aware that Brazil want him and Brazil know Ancelotti is ready to join, but everything hinges on what happens with Real Madrid this season.
If they end up winning the Champions League or even if Madrid decided to stick with him until his contract expires [2024], Brazil will be forced to look for alternatives. If not, one can expect the Italian to be the new head coach of the Seleçao.
