The second season of Carlo Ancelotti’s first season at Real Madrid ended with a Champions League semi-final defeat by Juventus in a game at the Bernabeu that left the Whites just a goal away from extra time (1-1 after the 2-1 ). first leg). 2015 ended without a European Cup, Liga and Copa del Rey, and Florentino Pérez sacked the Italy coach, who had won the tenth the previous year, and brought on the fugitive Rafa Benítez. In the second half of his second term, Ancelotti was also eliminated in the semi-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday, and much louder, 4-0 against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester United. But this time it happened in the middle of implementing a long-term strategic plan and with the trophy in the bag.
Madrid have a mission for Ancelotti in his final year of contract after which he has stated on several occasions that he intends to retire. Despite Manchester’s very painful fall, the notion in club offices yesterday was that the Italian would complete the long-awaited transition from veteran to youngster. “No one is better than him,” says a source close to the leadership.
The development of the game against City is not seen at the club as the only factor pushing to complete the implementation of the relief plan, but as a notable example that illustrates the needs of the team, starting with the striker. Karim Benzema’s course was disappointing, especially after the brilliance of the previous one which earned him the Ballon d’Or. Last summer, various people at the club, including Ancelotti, saw the need to bring in a nine who would give them rest in French and as a back-up plan in the event of a slump in performance. The Dome preferred to put their faith in another good year for Benzema, perhaps patched up by Rodrygo. It didn’t work out and the sporting directors are already exploring the market for an experienced striker.
The data is meaningful. In the last Champions League, the Frenchman had chances worth six expected goals (xG) according to the Statsbomb model and he scored 12. This unusual success was crucial for Madrid to take the 14th Orejona. In the league, his inspiration wasn’t as prominent, but his effectiveness exceeded expectations as well: he scored 0.65 goals per game from odds of 0.50 xG.
On this move, his target is below what the model thinks is expected: in the league, he had odds of 0.60 xG per game but only scored 0.52. He did even worse in the Champions League, with odds of 0.60 xG per game scoring 0.42, a far cry from last year’s lighting.
One of the interventions this summer will be made on his position, with the idea that the Frenchman will continue at the club if the renewal clause of his contract for winning the Ballon d’Or is activated. However, according to a source with access to the dressing room, there is still some doubt as to whether he will decide to stay in Madrid beyond June 30: “You see him detached from the club.”
What was striking was that the captain was the first to leave the field after the 4-0 defeat on Wednesday, armband in hand and barely a gesture towards the stands of the Madrid fans. Also that he refused to appear in front of the media when asked to do so by a club employee. It wasn’t that strange because of his character, but it was a very special evening.
The slight doubts about Benzema’s continuity don’t extend to Kroos and Modric, who have accepted extension offers, according to various sources familiar with the negotiations. Among them, the work of Ancelotti will be particularly important, with the club hoping for a more sporadic presence in the two legends’ squad. Several sources interviewed doubt they will be back together from the start in a match of the substance of the game played in Manchester.
The sporting planning indicates a game distribution in which Camavinga and Tchouameni appear much more frequently in midfield.
In addition, Madrid have managed to strike an agreement with England midfielder Jude Bellingham to bring him on board this summer, sources familiar with the operation say, and are confident in the details of Borussia Dortmund’s purchase and payments to his to be able to successfully complete a representative . The transfer price will exceed 100 million euros. This amount, plus the 80 million paid by Tchouameni and Camavinga’s impressive progression, make one expect an ever smaller dose of Modric and Kroos if the intentions of the club’s sporting directorate are followed, the implementation of which is entrusted to Ancelotti.
The final draft of the plan is also pending a meeting between Italian Florentino Pérez and CEO José Ángel Sánchez, scheduled for the next few days. The manager hopes to learn more concrete details about the sport’s plans at the meeting, such as the forward profiles under investigation and the status of negotiations on the possible new contracts of Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos, which expire on 30 June.
Even if the first intentions of both were to continue at Madrid, it cannot be ruled out that they will eventually have to leave and the club will have to fill their vacancies. Particularly critical would be the case of Asensio, who has scored 12 goals and provided eight assists this season, although the club are banking on the return of Brahim Díaz, who is now also a semi-finalist in the Champions League in Milan.
The return of academy left-back Fran García, now at Rayo, is also already complete and its incorporation would help ensure there was no need to use Camavinga in a position that neither the coaching staff nor the board is entitled to for the Frenchman as consider appropriate.
City’s 4-0 defeat hurt Madrid a lot but the transition plan for the youth players is still in progress and the club want Ancelotti to see it through to the end.
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