Real Madrid News
Ancelotti’s agent was in Brazil last week as Real Madrid job hangs in the balance
In a recent turn of events, journalist Bruno Andrade has claimed that Frank Trimboli, the agent of Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, was in Brazil last weekend to ‘feel the climate of football’ in the country.
Andrade adds that although Trimboli did not meet with the representatives of the Brazil Football Federation (CBF), he was accompanied by former player Gilberto Silva. Furthermore, the agent also tried to approach the likes of Kaka, Cafu, and Falcao.
Andrade’s report comes days after it was reported that there is some tension between Ancelotti and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
The latter is of the idea that the Italian is very firm with his starting XI and is not giving enough chances to the likes of Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos.
Amidst all this, there have been claims that Ancelotti is wanted by the Brazilian national team as pressure mounts on the Italian amidst a disappointing run of results.
Should Los Blancos fail to win any major title this season, there is a good chance that the legendary manager could be axed, even though his contract runs until the summer of 2024.
Given his situation and the links to the vacant Brazil job, his agent’s trip is certain to fuel speculations further.
Meanwhile, it is only natural for Real Madrid to look for alternatives for Ancelotti if they do indeed wish to make a change in the summer.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has emerged as one possible candidate but the Spaniard has since refuted the rumours by simply saying, “I am fully focused on what I am doing here [at Arsenal].”
Apart from Arteta, former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino is touted to be another option who Madrid are considering. It must be noted that the Argentine has been out of job since his PSG stint ended in 2022.
Another name that has been doing rounds is that of former striker Raul Gonzalez. The 45-year-old has been excellent at managing the Real Madrid Castilla side and dreams of managing the first team.
As far as Ancelotti is concerned, it is safe to say that the Italian will be in charge at least until the end of the season. Till then, the management has a lot of time to think about the options.
It is astounding that despite being the biggest club in Spain, Real Madrid do not have many Spanish players to show for it.
Los Blancos do indeed boast of a special diversity in the dressing room, but their lack of locally trained players could pose problems according to MARCA.
The Spanish outlet confirms that UEFA does not mandate the inclusion of any minimum number of locally grown players for a club. However, the Spanish federation stipulates that a club in Spain must boast of at least eight players who meet a specific set of conditions.
Of the aforementioned eight candidates, there must be at least four players who have spent three seasons or 36 months at the club between the ages of 15 and 21.
Currently, only Nacho Fernandez, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez, Federico Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Mariano make up the required number on that front.
The problem, however, arises with the condition for the other four players in the list of eight. RFEF stipulates that the second set of four players must have completed at least 36 months in teams attached to the federation of Spain between the ages of 15 and 21.
Only Jesus Vallejo, Alvaro Odriozola, Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos tick the aforementioned box. However, all four players have uncertain futures at the club and are well-placed to depart in the summer.
There are thus big decisions to be taken over the transfer strategy for June. Real Madrid can work ways to ship all four players out, it would require the re-integration of players like Sergio Arribas, Miguel Gutierrez or Fran Garcia to ensure the fulfilment of the criteria.
With both Vallejo and Odriozola seemingly frozen out of Ancelotti’s plans, their departures from Santiago Bernabeu appear inevitable. Thus, the management could be forced to renew one of Asensio or Ceballos come June.
