Real Madrid News
Jose Mourinho among the candidates to replace Ancelotti at Real Madrid – report
As Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid future continues to hang in the balance, former coach Jose Mourinho has emerged as a surprise candidate as the Italian’s successor.
It is no secret that Ancelotti is wanted by the Brazil national team and coaching the South American giants is proving to be quite a tempting offer for the Italian.
In a recent interview, Ancelotti admitted that he is overwhelmed by the offer and at the same time, did not rule out the opportunity. “The reality is that the Brazilian national team wants me and I love it and I’m very excited about it, but then I have to respect the contract I have and I want to fulfil it,” he said.
In a recent development, it was revealed that the Selecao are ready to wait until June to go ahead with the appointment of Ancelotti. Now, Real Madrid are well and truly aware of the movements which have forced them to look for alternatives.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris-Saint Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino is said to be on the list and current Roma boss Jose Mourinho is the newest entrant.
As reported by journalist Antonio Romero while speaking on SER Deportivos, Mourinho is in the pool to replace the Italian at Real Madrid.
It wasn’t too long back that journalist Antonio Romero iterated the same for Mourinho. He said that while promoting Alvaro Arbeloa is being considered at Real Madrid, one cannot rule out the possibility of Mourinho’s return.
“They tell me not to rule out Mourinho, and although it seems like science fiction to me, today it cannot be ruled out,” said Romero (via AS). The journalist completed his report by saying, “Another name they tell me is Zidane.”
Mourinho spent three years as the manager of Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and won the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.
After leaving Madrid, he had stints at Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham before ending up at Roma in 2021. He led the Giallorossi to the UEFA Europa Conference League triumph last season and his contract with the Serie A giants runs until 2024.
For now, Ancelotti is expected to stay at least until the end of the season. Until then, Real Madrid are expected to explore all possible alternatives.
According to AS, Real Madrid have sent a three-year contract offer with improved wages to Dani Ceballos and trust that the midfielder will continue at the club.
Ceballos is the last among the seven Los Blancos’ stars who entered the 2022/23 season with an expiring contract whose future is yet to be resolved.
Mariano Diaz, Marco Asensio, and Karim Benzema have all left Real Madrid while Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Nacho Fernandez are all set to continue at the Santiago Bernabeu for one more year.
As such, Ceballos remains the only player whose future remains unclear at this point.
The 26-year-old Spanish international has shown that he can offer value to the team and the club and manager Carlo Ancelotti are understood to ‘love’ him and want to retain his services.
Fans, too, made their feelings about the midfielder very clear this past weekend when Real Madrid played Athletic Club, as they chanted ‘Ceballos, stay!’
The Merengues have sent in a three-year proposal to the former Real Betis ace which includes an improvement in his wages. As such, the club expect him to pen the deal and continue at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, Ceballos is yet to make a decision as he is weighing up the fact that he will have to compete for a place with six other midfielders.
Indeed, Real Madrid already have Kroos, Modric, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurelien Tchouameni as competition for Ceballos. Now, they will also add Jude Bellingham to the roster, further amping up the battle for places.
Ceballos has two more offers apart from the one from Real Madrid – one from Spain and Italy each, although his former club Real Betis have not sent a proposal yet.
With the season over and less than three weeks left on his contract, it remains to be seen what the Real Madrid ace decides.
