Real Madrid News
Real Madrid legend the ‘number one’ candidate to replace Ancelotti in 2024
Journalist Christian Falk has reported via Caught Offside that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Xabi Alonso is seen as the ‘number one’ candidate to replace Carlo Ancelotti when the Italian leaves the team next summer.
It has been unofficially confirmed that Ancelotti will become the new head coach of Brazil national football team from June 2024.
This has forced Real Madrid to look for replacements and while former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann happens to be on the list, Alonso’s name is said to be topping the chart.
In this context, Falk has said that there was a floating idea for Alonso to become Madrid’s manager this summer, but he has committed to Bayer Leverkusen that he would not leave the team this year.
On a personal level, Alonso feels that he has a lot to learn before he can take up the Real Madrid job.
“We believe Xabi Alonso is the number one option to replace Carlo Ancelotti in 2024,” wrote the journalist in his column for Caught Offside.
“There were also ideas this summer but he’s very clear in this position. He told Leverkusen he won’t leave this summer because he knows that he’s still new and he won’t put the club in this situation.
“But in 2024, there would be no excuse if Real Madrid is asking for him. Of course, he’s interested and Leverkusen knows that there will be the possibility of Real Madrid coming in for him. I think at the moment he is one of the biggest solutions and has the best chance to get this job,” explained Falk.
Alonso started his managerial journey in June 2019 with Real Sociedad B. In October 2022, Leverkusen came calling and such was Alonso’s influence that he guided the Germans from second bottom to the sixth-placed finish.
Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur were said to be interested this summer, but Alonso committed to Leverkusen for one more season, making it perfect for Madrid to pounce on him next year when Ancelotti leaves.
There have been talks of a possible return for Zinedine Zidane as a replacement for Ancelotti, while promoting Raul Gonzalez from the Castilla outfit is also being discussed.
But as things stand, it appears that Alonso is the No. 1 candidate to take over the reins when Ancelotti moves on in 2024.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid believe recent events vs Villarreal and Roma were necessary to unite dressing room
As is the case always, there is a lot of noise surrounding Real Madrid. The Merengues continue to wage war against FC Barcelona over the Negreira case while continuing to battle the refereeing system in La Liga.
Performances on the pitch have not met the level of expectations and there is constant scrutiny on the team and the club as a whole.
Not a coincidence
Now, according to Jose Felix Diaz of AS, Real Madrid do not view recent events as isolated incidents. At Valdebebas, the club’s leadership believes that what has happened since the start of La Liga points to something more than a series of coincidences.
In their view, the events suggest a deliberate pattern, with the four-match suspension handed to Vinícius Jr. on Wednesday representing the culmination of what they perceive as a series of provocations.
Relations between Real Madrid and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have been strained for some time, but club officials believe the latest developments go further than previous disagreements.
Their view is that what has happened “has not been accidental”, although this is a reflection of the club’s position rather than an established fact.
Vinicius suspension intensifies the dispute
Real Madrid see the four-match ban imposed on Vinicius as a provocation, both because of its length and, above all, because of the timing of its announcement. The decision was communicated less than two hours before kick-off against Roma.
The RFEF’s disciplinary decisions are usually published in the early afternoon. However, the complexity of the Vinicius case coupled with some other events delayed the publication of all the rulings, not just the one concerning the Brazilian’s red card.
Nevertheless, the timing has reinforced Real Madrid’s existing concerns about their relationship with the governing body.
Mourinho becomes the club’s public voice
The latest disagreement comes after tentative efforts to open a dialogue, which have so far failed to produce meaningful progress. Relations between the two sides appear more distant than ever.
One significant difference this time is that Jose Mourinho has become the principal spokesperson for Real Madrid’s position. The Portuguese coach is prepared to communicate the club’s views directly and without diplomatic restraint.
Mourinho represents the club’s thinking and shares its concerns. His personality and direct communication style align with the message Real Madrid want to convey.
Comeback in Rome could prove a turning point
Despite the growing tension off the pitch, Real Madrid believe their recent performances could have a positive impact within the squad.
The club consider the events of Saturday and the comeback against Roma on Wednesday to have been particularly important.
There is a strong belief at Valdebebas that the team needed moments of adversity and a comeback of that magnitude to achieve greater unity within the dressing room.
The Champions League battle in Rome is therefore viewed as more than just another result. Internally, the conviction is that the experience could help strengthen the team’s collective spirit and bring the players together at a crucial stage of the season.
