Report: Real Madrid to replace Carlo Ancelotti, departure date confirmed

The European champions suffered another defeat in Champions League play last night, falling 3-1 to Milan at the Bernabeu. This loss adds to a rough stretch for the club, as they were previously thrashed 4-0 by Barcelona in El Clasico in Madrid. Real Madrid also faced backlash for their decision to skip the Ballon d'Or ceremony, especially after Vinicius Jr missed out on the award.

Now, president Florentino Perez has come to a conclusion over Ancelotti's future, with the 65-year-old struggling following the signing of Kylian Mbappe.

Carlo Ancelotti faces Real Madrid exit, with Xabi Alonso lined up

Ranked at no.2 in FourFourTwo's list of the best managers in the world right now, Ancelotti has been phenomenally successful in two spells in Spanish football.

The Italian was appointed head coach at Real in 2013, winning the Champions League in his first season before what many considered to be an unfair dismissal the following season. Ancelotti returned, however, in 2021 and has since lifted Old Big Ears on another two occasions.

Now, however, German outlet BILD are reporting that Ancelotti will have until the end of the season before being replaced.

According to the report, Ancelotti is protected “from an immediate dismissal” but with Perez viewing Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso as the man to take over Madrid's struggling “mega squad”, Ancelotti will not see out his contract – which will still have another year to run next summer.

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BILD also note that two Germans have been to blame for Ancelotti's woes. The Italian lost Toni Kroos somewhat unexpectedly in the summer, with the former World Cup winner announcing his retirement following the Euros – and Real have struggled to replace his metronomic presence in midfield. But Hansi Flick, of Barcelona, is also credited as part of Ancelotti's downfall, with the Clasico said to be a turning point in Perez's fath of his current boss.

A deal with Xabi Alonso to assume the reins could be made in the second half of the season, according to the report. Spanish outlet Fichajes has named Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola as Leverkusen's first-choice to replace the Basque in the Bundesliga.

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FourFourTwo understands that Alonso has been the first-choice for Real since last season – with his surprise decision to remain at the invincible champions last term likely because of a potential opening at either Real Madrid or Manchester City in 2025.

Alonso is under contract until 2026 but has a clause that allows him to leave Bayer Leverkusen for either Liverpool, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid – with perhaps only the Bernabeu a suitable destination of those three.