The mood around the Real Madrid fanbase is somber this week after Zinedine Zidane’s heartfelt letter in AS. After stepping down as the club’s manager, the legendary midfielder and coach penned an important piece about the state of the club and the lack of backing he felt from above. Florentino Perez and the club failed to have Zidane’s back as a human being, and that hurt him.
Now, Real Madrid have to find his replacement and understand that they must go forward with a better means of supporting their manager. And although the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Raul, and Antonio Conte have been linked, they could go in the direction of another former manager who is beloved by players and fans.
According to a report from El Larguero, “Don” Carlo Ancelotti has joined the list of possible managers for Real Madrid. He is the latest name circulating as a possible Zidane replacement, and he is perhaps the most exciting from the perspective of the fans.
Although Ancelotti left the club in 2015, he will always be remembered as the man who won La Decima. He was admired and respected by Real Madrid fans and the dressing room alike, and he has done a nice job with Everton in the Premier League this season.
Carlo Ancelotti could be a top candidate for Real Madrid, depending on the situations of Antonio Conte and Mauricio Pochettino
Ancelotti could make sense for Real. He knows how to show faith in players, he knows the stress of the job, and he is a man of high class who can lead the club through a transition period. There are some weaknesses, as he may not have the new ideas of Raul or the Revolutionary spirit of an Antonio Conte. But there’s a lot to like about Ancelotti.
Of course, we wrote that Real Madrid must be careful about nostalgia in their transfer decisions, and it is fair for a critical eye to note that Ancelotti’s return would have more than an air of nostalgia to it. And after all, the club was better off with Zinedine Zidane, though Ancelotti was certainly better than his immediate successor, Rafael Benitez.
Still, if Conte is not of interest to Perez due to the character clash and Pochettino is impossible to hire due to his PSG contract, Ancelotti may become the best external candidate for Los Blancos. Raul, to me, should be a high option, but Perez may not feel he is ready yet. After all, Zidane had more experience closer to the first team before he took on the manager job.
Ancelotti is certainly a name to keep an eye on now that he’s been linked to Real Madrid by a credible outlet. We’ll see if their pursuit of the three-time Champions League winner heats up.