EXCLUSIVE: Saudi Arabia approach Ancelotti amid Real Madrid uncertainty

Suraj Radia

17 Apr 2025 12:30 CDT
4 min read

Carlo Ancelotti, The Transfers Podcast — © IMAGO

Saudi Arabia will rival Brazil in trying to lure Carlo Ancelotti to manage their national team this summer if the Real Madrid coach leaves his role, The Transfers Podcast understands.

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Ancelotti has come under increasing pressure after a disappointing Champions League quarter-final exit to Arsenal this week, with reports that the Italian could be sacked after Real’s Copa Del Rey final later this month.

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Brazil have been targeting Ancelotti as their ideal managerial appointment for a number of years but Duncan Castles told The Transfers Podcast that the 65-year-old coach has always been open to his next job being in Saudi Arabia.

“The Saudi Arabians have been in contact with Ancelotti for some time now, making it clear that they want him and would out pay any other employer to get him to be the first part of their programme to prepare a national team for the World Cup that they will host in 2034,” Castles said.

“Interestingly, when Ancelotti has been asked about working in the Saudi Pro League, his response has been ‘why not? If I want to keep coaching after I finish here, why not coach in Saudi Arabia?’

“This is definitely something to pay attention to. Ancelotti has encouraged that interest from Saudi Arabia and they have been working in the background now for a while by saying to him that, should he become free, they would like to take him.”

Ancelotti junior eyeing managerial role in England

While Ancelotti’s future could lie in Saudi Arabia, he is unlikely to be joined by his son Davide, who has been his father’s assistant at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and Real.

The 35-year-old is keen to begin his own managerial career and is hoping to secure a job in English football is Real Madrid look to make a change in the dugout this summer.

© IMAGO - Davide Ancelotti (right) could leave his father Carlo this summer.

Castles said: “My understanding is that [Davide] has started to explore opportunities to coach in his own right for next season and is targeting, if he can get it, a job in England, either at top Championship club or a Premier League club.

“It is not fully decided that he will separate from his father, but the expectation is, if Madrid decide to part company with Carlo, then Davide will take an offer from a European club, ideally an English club if one comes up for him to start coaching as the main man.”