Real Madrid are nowhere near as convincing this season as last year. Now Real Madrid are more balanced and the rumours of the sacking have quieted down somewhat, yet a replacement is kept on standby.
Real Madrid may have “already decided” who their ideal replacement for Carlo Ancelotti could be, with the 65-year-old leading Real Madrid for the second time, having been in charge between 2013-15. On December 22, Real Madrid at home at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu have the opportunity to climb up to first place in the La Liga table in the face of Sevilla.
However, according to COPE journalist Roberto Morales, former Madrid boss Santiago Solari has been linked with a return to the club as manager. Santiago Solari is now the head of professional football at Real Madrid, a job he has held since 2022.
“Solari is the option of choice if things don’t get back on track and there’s a big setback in the coming months,” “I don’t see Ancelotti being fired,”
“His successes, the importance of his figure, should not open a debate to at least finish the season.”
Solari, 48, previously managed the club’s “B team” between 2016 and 2018 before making the step up to the senior position as interim manager in October 2018 after Julen Lopetegui was sacked.
The Argentine was appointed permanent manager two weeks after taking on the interim position, but was sacked in March 2019 after an embarrassing 4-1 Champions League round of 16 defeat to Erik ten Hag’s Ajax.
Reports from Football Espana suggest that Xabi Alonso would be the club’s long-term solution when Ancelotti moves on
Therefore, Solario can provide a short-term solution, which will happen if Real Madrid drop below the top four.
Ahead of his sacking in 2019, two key Real Madrid stars gave their thoughts on the situation when Solario was in charge, with Sergio Ramos calling it “disastrous” while Nacho explaining how the team had a “difficult” relationship with the coach, according to ESPN’s report at the time.
Solario was followed by Zinedine Zidane, who went on to win three Champions Leagues as Madrid manager.
