Despite Perez's support for Ancelotti, Brazil still knocks as Raul may quit Madrid
Brazil remain interested in the experienced coach, as confirmed by Ednaldo Rodrigues.
Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has publicly ruled out Carlo Ancelotti’s sacking, but according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the future of the Italian tactician at the Bernabeu also depends on Brazil’s ‘official’ move.
Ancelotti’s Real Madrid were beaten 4-0 in a second-leg Champions League semifinal by Manchester City, raising doubts about the future of Carletto in the Spanish capital. Both Ancelotti and Perez have confirmed that they are not planning to part company one year before the end of their deal which runs out in June 2024.
Nevertheless, Brazil remain interested in the experienced coach, as confirmed by Ednaldo Rodrigues. The President of the Brazilian FA has recently claimed that Ancelotti is the leading candidate to replace Tite, who was sacked after the World Cup in Qatar.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Brazilian FA must make an official move to hire the former Milan and Juventus boss. At that point, Florentino’s public claims supporting his coach must be followed by concrete action.
The report claims Florentino has sounded out possible replacements for Ancelotti over the last few months and the fact that Madrid’s legend and ‘TV spokesperson’ Emilio Butragueno has recently refused to reply to questions about the future of Ancelotti suggests that the coach’s future in Madrid is more in doubt than what the Merengues want to show publicly.
Throughout this season, the name of Raul Gonzalez was being mentioned as a hot prospect in Spanish management for the job he was doing at Real Madrid Castilla.
Some were even touting him for the big job at the Santiago Bernabeu, but those links have gone quiet in recent months.
While Castilla have had a tough few weeks, losing three of their last four matches, they remain in with a shot at promotion, just three points behind Alcorcon in second, and four behind Racing Ferrol in first. Even if Castilla do not go up to Segunda, most would agree he has done a good job.
Yet he appears set to leave at the end of the season. Cadena SER say that Los Blancos have always allowed him to listen to offers from the Bundesliga or the Premier League that he has told them about, but have told him that they ‘have a plan for him’.
The implication was that he would take over from Ancelotti when the Italian leaves. He was their emergency option should Ancelotti be sacked or leave ahead of time. Yet with Ancelotti destined to remain for another season, Raul will seek his fortunes abroad. The Castilla boss, and others at the club, feel he is ready for top-level football management already after three years in the youth ranks at Real Madrid.
The likelihood is that if Raul does go abroad and impress in his role, he will be called upon down the line to take up the Real Madrid job. In a similar fashion to the way Luis Enrique did, if he cans show signs of quality as a manager at the top level, his cachet will weigh heavy on the club’s interest in him.
