Real Madrid News
Real Madrid in advanced talks with Zinedine Zidane over a return to the club – report
With the new ultimatum from the Brazilian Football Confederation placing a noose around his neck, Carlo Ancelotti stands at a critical junction.
One road leads back to Real Madrid next season, the club at which he has won it all and also overseen a tremendous time over the past two years. The other, however, leads to the Brazilian National Team.
The Selecao are desperate to bring Ancelotti in as their next manager, so much so that they have agreed to wait until the end of May. However, they will close the door next month after which the Italian may never receive the chance again.
Truth be told, there is a relatively equal chance of their outcome. It is thus vital that Real Madrid stay prepared for the case of Ancelotti’s departure.
According to reports from Santi Aouna via The Madrid Zone, Real Madrid are in advanced talks with Zidane Zidane. The French tactician is best placed to take over if Ancelotti leaves in June.
It was reported yesterday that there had been contact between the two parties, but with talks already said to be at an advanced stage, things seem to be moving pretty fast. Zidane, for his part, is said to be open to a return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Zidane is no stranger to managing Los Blancos and has overseen some of the institution’s most successful periods in recent history. In his two stints as the team’s manager so far, he has won three Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and the Spanish Super Cup twice each.
Mauricio Pochettino was initially Florentino Perez’s top candidate to take over in June. However, he is unlikely to wait until June given the uncertainty around Ancelotti’s future and could join Chelsea soon.
Zidane is thus the club’s safest and most likely bet. After all, there has been little to criticise about his methods as the manager and as they say, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
