Carlo Ancelotti is the new Real Madrid coach, made official last Tuesday and officially presented on Wednesday, with a press conference in which he had to start tackling some of the hot issues within the Madrid team. The future of several footballers depends to a large extent on what the Italian decides, or on the 'feeling' that these players have with him; Also the way of playing that Carletto is going to bet on will have its influence and importance, affecting certain roles acquired in the current squad.
Thus, up to seven Madrid footballers can see their course varied, inside or outside the white team, due to the arrival of Ancelotti to the bench to replace Zidane: they are Marcelo, Ramos, Isco, Bale, Odegaard, Ceballos and Casemiro. All of them are affected by the arrival of Ancelotti, to a greater or lesser extent.
Marcelo
The Brazilian has been in the doldrums for three seasons. In 2018-19 he started as a starter, but he began to see the deficiencies much more than usual, the injuries were primed with him and he also lacked a point of professionalism to maintain the form; Solari ended up relegating him to the substitution for the benefit of Reguilón, although Zidane later undid that change. But the arrival of Mendy ended up sending him to the bank, where he has spent a good part of this course: he has only played 1,339 minutes. The final stretch of the course will have been devastating for him, seeing how Zidane preferred to line up an inexperienced youth squad like Miguel Gutiérrez before him.
At the press conference for his presentation, Ancelotti commented on the situation of veterans who have lost prominence, such as Marcelo: “I have a lot of affection for Bale, Isco, Marcelo … They are Real Madrid players, that already motivates them. There is a judge who is the field. They have to train well and show the coach that they can play for Madrid. “Under Carletto's orders, Marcelo played 92 games, scoring 6 goals and giving 18 assists. He was a substitute on important days, such as in the Cup and Champions League finals. from 2013-14, but over time he prevailed in the position and the Italian manager appreciated his versatility in attack. The question now is: will he try to recover that level of the Brazilian or will he bet everything on Mendy, much less dynamic offensively, but a defensive rock that helps balance Madrid?
Bouquets
The renovation of the center-back enjoyed great prominence in Ancelotti's presentation, who was not particularly clear when it came to positioning himself: “Ramos is a very important player for Madrid. He has been in all the successes the club has had.. We are going to talk to the player and I have to talk to the club about all this. I know you are trying to renew it, but I don't know the details. When I meet them, I will be able to say something more. ”The relationship between Carletto and Ramos is excellent, the Italian owes the captain the Tenth, thanks to that goal in the 93rd minute in Lisbon against Atlético. But Ancelotti knows that the renovation of the one in Beds is a matter of club politics and does not intend to interfere especially; you will wait and see if you can count on it or not.
Ancelotti, Sacchi and Ramos.
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The Sevillian was the second player most used by Ancelotti in his first spell at Madrid, only behind Cristiano. He was essential to win titles, such as the Décima, thanks to his both in the final and his header double in the semifinal second leg in Munich against Bayern. If he finally stays, it is more than likely that he will be a starter for Carletto, along with Alaba (counting that Varane will leave, it is his wish and also that of the club); the negotiations between Ramos and the club are at a standstill and go straight to a ravine, but If the captain accepts the year of contract that Madrid offered him at the time (he wants two), there may be a happy ending.
Isco
The people from Malaga have received the arrival of Ancelotti with great optimism. Isco was not indisputable for Carletto in his first stage, many times he was relegated to the bench by Bale or James, but in the global count he was the footballer who played the most games with the Italian. Ancelotti liked his short dribbling style and a lot of arrival, although the situation of the one from Arroyo de la Miel has changed a lot since then and his performance has also changed: he scored his last goal on February 26, 2020, almost a year and a half ago.
Isco and Ancelotti.
JESUS AGUILERA
Isco asked Madrid and Zidane to leave last January to be able to play regularly and have some option to enter Luis Enrique's list for the European Championship. It was not the case and the intention of the malagueño was to leave Madrid this summer, transferred or transferred (He has one year left on his contract, until 2022), although at the moment he does not have great offers. It is possible that this intention will be maintained, but at least Isco will have a talk with Ancelotti to analyze what he expects of him and if possible the option that the Italian tries to recover the best version of 'Magic', as he was called in the dressing room, a footballer in free fall who, however, is only 29 years old.
Bale
Ancelotti's words in his presentation were encouraging for the Welsh's fans: “He hasn't played much in the Premier, but he has scored a lot of goals. He was very effective in the last games, when he had continuity. I know him well. If he has the motivation to play, he can have a great season, I have no doubts. “ It looks like the Italian will bet on getting all the juice that the British have left in his last year of contract. Madrid considered looking for another loan this summer to ease the salary bill, but the opinion of the new coach may vary that plan.
And that Ancelotti and Bale do not have a particularly pleasant past. The Welshman was very important in the Italian's first stage, he scored fundamental goals as in the Cup final against Barcelona or in Lisbon against Atleti, but in his second season a match at Mestalla (defeat 2-1) broke that confidence. Ancelotti revealed in a book written after his departure from Madrid that he received a call from Florentino, complaining because Bale's agent had reproached him for the Welshman being substituted in that match, in addition to demanding that he should play in the center as a midfielder (something with what Benítez did swallow at the start of the following year). Carletto turned a deaf ear to the whims of Jonathan Barnett and his relationship with Florentino changed from now on, as revealed by himself. But that was another Bale, a star who aspired to replace Cristiano at Madrid; Today the Welshman knows that every opportunity for white may be his last.
Odegaard
The Norwegian debuted in white with Ancelotti, just 16 years old and recently arrived in Madrid, being a member of Castilla. Then came several assignments in the Netherlands, a fantastic year at Real Sociedad and his return to Madrid, in which Zidane asked him, but then he gave him very little ball, so much so that he asked to go to Arsenal in January. The 'gunner' team wants him to return, transferred or bought, but it remains to be seen what Ancelotti thinks of the Nordic. For now, in his analysis of the competitiveness of this squad, he named three players who had missed last season: Bale, Ceballos … and Odegaard.
The Norwegian wants to play regularly and the club knows it. The 2020-21 season was supposed to be Modric's farewell, in which he had to transfer the powers of the white midfield, but it was the opposite: the Nordic barely played and the Croatian did a lot and very well, so much so that he has renewed for another year. Madrid were hit hard by injuries last season and depth of squad will be critical in the coming season, so Ancelotti is likely to ask that Odegaard stay to fight for the job. It remains to be seen what the player thinks, but in recent statements he has already made it clear that it depends on the club's decision.
Ceballos
Another who named Ancelotti in his presentation without being asked about him, has seen him closely this season in the Premier League and knows of his potential. Also of the shortcomings that the white midfield has suffered last season, which Utrera's could cover to a large extent. But it remains to be seen what Ceballos thinks, who is clear that he does not want more transfers (he has been on loan for two years at Arsenal): either he stays at Madrid or he is transferred.
The sure thing was that Ceballos was not going to return to Madrid if Zidane was on the bench. The harsh criticism that the Sevillian gave the French coach at the start of 2018-19 seriously damaged the relationship between the two. But with Ancelotti, it remains to be seen how Ceballos fits into the new coach's plans. If he does not see it clearly, he will ask to be transferred and must bring a sufficient offer to satisfy the needs of Madrid.
Casemiro
A strange case, that of the Brazilian: he was part of the squad in 2013-14, that of La Décima, but only playing just over 600 minutes. Ancelotti did not trust him too much and approved of him leaving for Porto in the summer of 2014, overshadowed as he was by Xabi Alonso, Kroos, Modric and even Khedira. Now Carletto returns to a Madrid in which the Brazilian is captain-general, one of the heavyweights of the locker room and de facto one of the captains, in fact he is the one who most often shows his face after defeats to the media.
Casemiro and Ancelotti.
JESUS RUBIO
In his first stage at Madrid, Ancelotti opted for a 4-4-2 start that later mutated to a 4-3-3; in both cases, Casemiro has a place. It remains to be seen where Carletto pulls, but he sure does not want to vary the line that Madrid has followed in recent years with the Brazilian. In addition, as a good Italian, Ancelotti has a weakness for players who provide defensive balance, a category in which Casemiro enters the top positions.