Rafael Benitez is “99 per cent” certain to be the next Real Madrid coach, according to the agent for Carlo Ancelotti, who was dismissed by the club on Monday after two years in charge.
‘Change of direction’
After weeks of speculation about his future, the Italian, 55, was dismissed by club president Florentino Perez after the team failed to win a trophy in 2014/15. Perez said the time had come for a “change of direction”.
Italy based
Napoli coach Benitez has emerged as favourite to become the new coach at the Bernabeu and Ancelotti’s representative Ernesto Bronzetti fully expects the Spaniard, also 55, who started his managerial career with Madrid’s reserve side, to become the club’s 13th coach since 2003 telling Italian television channel Rai Sport: “Benitez is 99 per cent sure to go to Real.”
No trophies
Ancelotti’s departure had been anticipated since Madrid were knocked out of the Uefa Champions League by Juventus this month. He won the Champions League and Copa del Rey in his first season in charge at the Bernabeu and also helped Madrid lift the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup in 2014. However, Madrid finished second to Barcelona in the Primera Liga and were knocked out of Europe and the Copa del Rey.
Sabbatical for Ancelotti
Before his dismissal, Ancelotti said he was going to have a back operation and take a year-long sabbatical if Madrid decided to part company with him. Bronzetti reiterated that on Monday night, saying: “As of right now, Ancelotti wants to take a year’s break. At Real Madrid you can be sacked if you don’t win any trophies in a season.”
Benitez’s ‘sweetheart’
Any move for the former Liverpool, Valencia and Inter Milan coach is only likely to materialise once the Serie A season ends on Sunday, but the Madrid-born Benitez has previously spoken of his wish to manage the Bernabeu side, calling the club his “sweetheart” while he was in interim charge of Chelsea in 2013.
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