Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid assistant coach emerges as an option to replace Xabi Alonso
Two wins in two games against Deportivo Alaves and Talavera have earned Xabi Alonso a temporary stay of execution at Real Madrid, for his job was practically on the line after the defeats to Celta Vigo and Manchester City.
The two wins, however, do not confirm his continuity on the Real Madrid bench and only give him a little longer to prove that he is the right man for the job.
Real Madrid concurrently continue to look for names who can possibly replace the new manager should he be sacked, and SPORT now relays that a familiar face has emerged as an option.
The other Ancelotti
Xabi Alonso arrived in the summer to replace Carlo Ancelotti who failed to hit the board’s expectations last season.
The Spanish outlet now bring to light that his son Davide Ancelotti is emerging as a candidate to replace the former.
Davide is no new name at the Valdebebas for he served as his father’s assistant manager with the first team in his second stint at the club. He even followed Carlo Ancelotti to the Brazilian national team, before he eventually parted ways to start his own journey.
Davide was then appointed the manager of Botafogo in July of this year replacing Renato Paiva. However, he has left the club earlier this week after the team were eliminated by LDU Quito in the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 and is currently without a job.
The timing of his departure from the Brazilian club coinciding with Real Madrid’s struggles, as per the report, may not be completely unexpected. He is now said to be a candidate being considered by the administration.
Ancelotti knows Real Madrid’s ways and dressing room inside out owing to his recent association with the club, and the only factor seemingly against him is the lack of managerial experience he has.
Real Madrid opted to renew Antonio Rudiger’s contract this past summer to keep him at the club for one more season.
The 33-year-old veteran defender, though, has not been performing at his best, with physical problems taking their toll and age starting to catch up with him.
As such, the expectation is that Los Blancos will not extend his contract again when his current one expires on 30 June 2027.
Tottenham eye Antonio Rudiger
And, according to reports relayed by AS, Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a free-transfer swoop to sign Rudiger in the summer of next year.
The north London club are understood to be keen on reinforcing their backline next year and see the German defender as an option, given his experience in the Premier League and the fact that he would be available for free in the summer.
So far this season, Rudiger has played only five games for Real Madrid, amounting to a total of 396 minutes.
The 33-year-old has even chipped in with two goals, including the all-important winner in the 4-3 comeback victory over AS Roma on Wednesday night.
Time to move on?
Despite Rudiger being a hugely respected figure in the Real Madrid locker room, he is currently the third-choice centre-back for Jose Mourinho.
After all, summer signing Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen have been preferred by the manager so far in the new season.
Moreover, with Eder Militao set to return imminently after a lengthy injury layoff, Rudiger’s game-time could be impacted further.
Given the situation and factoring in Real Madrid’s plans to sign another centre-back next summer, it is pretty much evident that Rudiger does not feature in the club’s plans for beyond this season.
As such, a separation of ways seems pretty likely when his contract expires, and Tottenham are now positioning themselves as early suitors to sign Rudiger as a free agent in 2027.
