Carlo Ancelotti's opinion holds weight at Real Madrid and that's why his assessment of his former club should concern fans. The Italian coach will go down as one of the greatest managers in the club's history.
The Brazil boss left Madrid for a second time at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. He was a massive success during both spells in the Spanish capital and many felt he had laid the foundations for his successor to continue delivering major trophies.
Xabi Alonso replaced Ancelotti but failed to win over the players at the Estadio Bernabeu. The Spaniard endured several issues during his seven months in charge including dealing with big egos.
Ancelotti's man management is renowned and why he was able to get all his players to follow his vision. But even he feels the squad is in need of a major reset when the summer transfer window opens.
Madrid need 'radical overhaul' - Carlo Ancelotti's coaching staff
Ancelotti coached the majority of the current Madrid squad and was able to guide them to the Champions League and La Liga title. That includes the likes of Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham who have come under criticism this season and some have suggested one of the pair should be sold.
According to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, Ancelotti's coaching staff believe the poor performances on display this season have "no immediate solutions." They feel a "radical overhaul financed by a big-name sale" is required in the summer.
Los Blancos are expected to reinforce their squad with the addition of a centre-back and midfielder. But the old guard reckon a new right-back and right-winger should also be targeted.
Davide Ancelotti on where it went wrong for Alonso
The son of Carlo Ancelotti, Davide, worked at Madrid as his father's assistant during his second reign in charge of Los Merengues. He would have seen just how much rebuilding was required when the pair left their roles last year.
Davide opened up on Alonso's struggles during his short-lived spell in the Bernabeu dugout. He said (via Madrid Universal):
"Every year you have to find a balance. Sometimes you're lucky enough to have the time to find it and sometimes you don't. Xabi Alonso did not have it."
It's no secret that many in football believe Alonso wasn't given enough time. But to hear it from a former coach who was at the club this time last year is damning.
Alonso oversaw 24 wins in 34 games and arrived off the back of a tremendous reign at Bayer Leverkusen. He led the Germans to the Bundesliga title with an unbeaten campaign, stopping Bayern Munich's lengthy stranglehold of German football in the process.