Real Madrid are in the business of recruiting the top players and managers in the world, but rarely have to worry about other entities coming in for their star names. However they are facing an offensive for manager Carlo Ancelotti.
It has been a turbulent season at AS Roma, which has seen Daniele de Rossi swiftly dismissed for Ivan Juric at the start of the season. The Croatian did not last more than a few months, before club legend Claudio Ranieri was parachuted in to arrest their struggles. Around the same time there were rumours that the Giallorossi could be interested in Ancelotti at the time too.
According to Diario AS, Roma have opened contacts with Ancelotti’s camp to try and persuade him to join them at the end of the season. The Friedkin family see Ancelotti as the answer to their problems though, and now are personally involved in an effort to bring him in. Ancelotti spent 8 years at Roma as a player, appearing in 227 games and scoring 17 goals in one of their most successful eras. In the Italian capital he won 4 Italian Cups and a rare Scudetto.
“One day I would like very much to coach them,” Ancelotti has said in the past, but when asked about the job in December, reaffirmed his commitment to Real Madrid.
“There’s a lot of talk about it, but I’m fine here and I’m working to stay as long as possible. Ranieri is a friend and he is doing very well, I am happy. I have a great relationship with Roma, very good memories, but from words to actions there is a long way to go. For now, I’m fine here and I’m not thinking about my future. I still have a two-year contract, but contracts can be broken…. Or extended.”
Roma know that unless Florentino Perez decides to sack Ancelotti with a year remaining on his deal this summer, their chances of securing his signature are minimal. The manager’s intention remains to stay at Real Madrid as long as possible, but contacts are underway. That said, Ancelotti’s continuity likely hinges on success in either La Liga or the Champions League, with Xabi Alonso waiting in the wings.
