Ancelotti sparks Real Madrid transfer war with 'best in the world' claim

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 25 Jan 2024 20:09 GMT
• 3 min read

Just a few weeks ago it appeared that Ferland Mendy would be on his way out of Real Madrid but the club are now reportedly at war over his status in the squad.

The 28-year-old has a contract which expires in 2025, meaning that los Blancos would have to look to get rid of him this summer if they were going to see any return on the initial €48 million paid to Lyon in 2019.

With Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies lined up as an explosive free transfer for the summer of 2024, and with Fran Garcia seen as a dependable understudy for the Canadian, Mendy’s time looked to be up.

The French international has also struggled for fitness throughout his time at Madrid, racking up a string of injuries which have condemned him to long spells on the sidelines.

Ancelotti's stance on Mendy

Mendy has earned the plaudits of Carlo Ancelotti of late with the Italian disclosing earlier this month that there were no better defensive left backs in the world of football than him.

"He is the best left-back in the world at a defensive level. He can improve in attack but defensive he is the best,” Ancelotti said.

That was in reference to Mendy’s displays in the Spanish Super Cup competition in Saudi Arabia, where Madrid overcame local rivals Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals before defeating Barcelona convincingly in the final.

Now, Diario AS reports on an internal conflict at Madrid over the future of the Champions League-winning left-back.

But, despite Mendy back in the favour of his coaching staff, he is still seen as disposable by the club’s board, with Garcia considered a more suitable prospect to serve as understudy to Davies.

And now Madrid face a painstaking decision of who to sacrifice if Davies arrives through the door this summer.

It looks to be a summer of upheaval at the Bernabeu with Kylian Mbappe heading their shortlist and, if the French superstar arrives, that puts doubts over the future of Vinicius Junior. It could be all change in Madrid.