Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has spoken out over the credentials of two of his potential successors in the dugout in Spain’s capital.
The subject of Ancelotti’s future at the Santiago Bernabéu has of course long taken its place centre stage in the Spanish football headlines.
This comes amid the widespread assumption that the Italian is primed to move on upon the conclusion of the current season.
Ancelotti’s contract in Madrid is set to expire in a little over six months’ time, with the hierarchy of the Brazilian national team working hard to persuade the experienced tactician to take up the reins of their faltering side.
Speaking to the media earlier (as cited by Marca), Ancelotti was therefore drawn on his future once more, and went on to reveal that a telling update will soon be forthcoming:
“I am proud to be talked about in Brazil. Something will soon be known. I’ll wait for Madrid until the last moment.”
From here, the former Chelsea and AC Milan boss was quizzed on the readiness of Xabi Alonso, widely tipped as the favourite to replace him in Madrid, to make the step up to one of world football’s biggest clubs.
And Ancelotti was full of praise for his former midfield star, albeit only before also pointing towards fellow countryman Thiago Motta, currently in charge of Bologna, as another boasting ‘the profile to be a coach at Madrid’:
“I want to thank Xabi. He’s an impressive player and he’s having a fantastic career as a coach because he has the perfect qualities.
“I like him a lot as a coach. He is one of the coaches I like the most along with Thiago Motta. He has the profile to be a coach at Madrid because he knows the club and is very well-liked.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
