Real Madrid plan MAJOR change amid Mbappe woes

Cameron Smith

• 27 Oct 2024 14:45 GMT
• 4 min read

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is desperate to replace Carlo Ancelotti with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso in 2025, according to reports in Spain.

Los Blancos suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico on Saturday night, and Ancelotti is now set to be replaced at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

Ancelotti’s current contract at the Santiago Bernabeu runs until 2026, but he could leave the Spanish giants one year early, as per SPORT.

READ MORE: WORST player on the pitch - Kylian Mbappe’s Clasico nightmare

Perez is reportedly desperate to bring Alonso back to the club in a managerial role and a deal could be agreed next summer.

According to SPORT, a key reason why Ancelotti may be dismissed is because of his inability to get the best out of Kylian Mbappe.

The France superstar has been forced to play in a centre forward role since his arrival, due to the presence of Ballon d’Or favourite Vinicius Junior on the left flank, and he endured a nightmare El Clasico on Saturday.

Mbappe has eight goals and two assists in 14 appearances so far this campaign, but he is yet to display his true potential, and Perez believes appointing Alonso may bring the best out of Real Madrid’s latest Galactico.

READ MORE: Real Madrid get firm Tonali answer

What has Carlo Ancelotti said?

After Real Madrid’s defeat on Saturday evening, Ancelotti told reporters: “It [the result] doesn't reflect what happened on the pitch. We couldn't get ahead and they took the lead.

“The game, until the first goal, was very even and we had more chances. The formation was 4-4-2 and I think we did well in the first half.”

When asked why his side were outclassed by Barcelona, Ancelotti added: “The problem is that when you concede two goals, you take risks. It's normal. Taking risks against a team that is doing well is more dangerous than usual.

“If we had scored [to make it] 1-2, it would have changed. There are problems that we have to solve. Today we had intensity in the first half and we started well in the second. But the goal changes everything. It is also a psychological problem, not a tactical problem.”

“I do not regret my gameplan. I have been in football for 48 years, so I'm not wrong when I tell you that the first half was good. It's different from the loss vs Lille. We were very bad that day. We competed today.”