Real Madrid News
Real Madrid president has prepared a five-man shortlist as Ancelotti replacements – report
The Madrid media has been working hard on the topic of Carlo Ancelotti’s future at the club. With his side struggling to dominate like they did last season, the Italian tactician faces a serious possibility of losing his job come June.
Reports regarding his potential successor have been thrown at the drop of a hat, making it difficult to read into the authenticity of the claims.
El Confidencial (h/t Madrid Xtra) attempts to summarise all the candidates being considered by Florentino Perez and reports that there are five contenders.
Raul Gonzalez, the current manager at the Castilla, is one of the best-placed candidates. The club legend has guided the subsidiary team to fourth place in the league standings, just six points behind the leaders of the Primera RFEF division. It would only be just to give him the promotion he deserved.
Yet, there are managers with UEFA Champions League experience available on the market who boast of a CV far superior to Raul. One such candidate is Julian Nagelsmann who was fired yesterday at Bayern Munich.
The German coach had the Bavarians just one point off the Bundesliga standings’ summit and in the quarterfinal of the UCL. He has spoken about being open to coaching Real Madrid in the past and could thus arrive in the summer.
Xabi Alonso is the third name on the table and another who, like Raul, lacks experience at the highest level. Yet, if his current stint at Bayer Leverkusen is anything to go by, he has the tactical acumen required to succeed managing a top club.
Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane are two other names discussed internally in the club offices. Both managers are currently without a club and would be available easily in June. However, the Argentine’s disappointing spell at PSG may spark doubts over his appointment, and it is not clear if Zidane would favour a return for the third time.
Real Madrid set out on a mission to change the minds of Dani Ceballos, Marco Asensio and Nacho Fernandez earlier this week. After all, all three players were contemplating a departure from the club for a gross lack of minutes.
Los Blancos’ latest approach seems to have impacted Ceballos’ position in a positive fashion. However, Fabrizio Romano reveals that it has not changed Marco Asensio’s mind.
According to the Italian journalist, the Spaniard will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season as a free agent.
Of the numerous options on his table, he sees Aston Villa and PSG to be the best bets. In fact, Villa have already submitted their opening bid for the player as revealed by Fabrizio Romano once again.
After a dramatic final day of action in the Premier League, Aston Villa finished in the European spots and will participate in the UEFA Conference League next season. While a move to the English club would be a steep step down, it will see Asensio receive regular playing time.
Paris-Saint Germain, on that front, appears the more probable destination. The French club are close to losing both Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr ahead of the new season, and Asensio would thus fit in as a starting quality winger. Moreover, they offer Champions League football.
The Spaniard’s role at Real Madrid this season has not been minor by any means considering his contributions. In 30 La Liga appearances, the 27-year-old has scored nine goals and provided six assists in addition to creating nine big chances and averaging 1.4 key passes per game.
However, that does not satisfy the winger who wishes to be a starter week in and week out. His departure in June appears to be now written in stone, and the club should feel hard done to not make a penny of his move.
Many in Los Blancos’ administration see Brahim Diaz as a direct replacement for the Spanish international if he leaves. Needless to say, the AC Milan star’s future will closely depend on Asensio’s situation.
