Xabi is just days away from joining Real Madrid, where he is expected to lead the team to the Club World Cup. It is implied that he will be officially announced within weeks, if not days.
But the manager has already starting working behind the curtains. He previously gave Real Madrid a list of signings he wanted and one of those is already very close to joining the club.
According to Jose Luis Sanchez (via MadridXtra), Xabi has begun to gather information about Castilla's players. The upside is that he is doing it not only for the upcoming season, which begins in a few months, but also for the Club World Cup.
Xabi is doing what Carlo Ancelotti could never at Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti is a fantastic manager, but the biggest criticism he received was for his lack of faith in the young players. Except for Raul Asencio, who arrived in a time of dire necessity, no Castilla player shone under Ancelotti.
Xabi, on the other hand, has previously worked with Real Sociedad B and appreciates the necessity of giving young players an opportunity in the big team.
Ancelotti was extremely reliant on just employing regular first-team players, no matter what, even if it meant experimenting with players in positions they had never played before. He just couldn't trust the academy. But we know Xabi is different.
He is expected to trust the academy players more often, giving them more chances in the first team. Along with many players in the first team, the academy is in for a treat as well.
Xabi is likely to force a significant makeover of the Real Madrid squad. His arrival will benefit many players while also causing problems for others. He has one goal in mind: to make this team the best in the world again.
Carlo Ancelotti, on the other hand, is managing his last remaining games this season. His move to Brazil has already been announced.