Carlo Ancelotti is living his last days as Real Madrid's coach. After falling in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, only La Liga remains, but it doesn't depend on them. The atmosphere in the locker room is starting to accept it: the Italian coach's cycle has come to an end.
The management is already thinking about the future. All paths point to one name: Xabi Alonso. The Bayer Leverkusen coach is in the spotlight, and everything indicates that he is the main candidate to lead Real Madrid.
A Clear Change on the Left Back
Xabi Alonso would not only bring new tactical ideas but also important decisions regarding the squad. One of the most controversial has a name: Ferland Mendy. The Frenchman, a regular starter under Ancelotti, is not in the plans of the Basque coach.
Alonso prefers Fran García, who has been a substitute for most of the season. But for the Basque coach, Fran has room for improvement, commitment, and fits better with his style. Mendy, on the other hand, has been plagued by injuries, and his performance has been inconsistent.
The Club is on Xabi's Side
Within Real Madrid, they no longer defend Mendy as much as before. They see him as a physically fragile player who misses important matches and doesn't offer guarantees. He has just been injured again and will undergo surgery, which further complicates his possible sale.
Fran, on the contrary, has shown positive glimpses. Without being brilliant, he has delivered, has rhythm, projection, and an attitude that is appreciated in Valdebebas.
If Xabi Alonso wants him, the club will support him. The idea is clear: to clean the squad of players who no longer offer reliability.
Who Can Arrive?
The sports management is already at work, looking for a modern, young, and hungry left back. Three main names are being considered: Álvaro Carreras, Milos Kerkez, and Miguel Gutiérrez. Two of them are Madrid's youth players, which would facilitate their adaptation.
It won't be easy to bring them. They have contracts, and their clubs won't let them go for little money, but if the new coach wants them, Madrid is willing to invest. The important thing is to build a competitive long-term project.
Mendy: The Exit Door is Open
As of today, the most pointed player is Ferland Mendy. His time at Real Madrid seems over. He no longer has Ancelotti's support, who will leave, nor the favor of his potential successor, Xabi Alonso, who doesn't consider him useful for his scheme.
If a suitable offer comes, he will leave. The club knows it, the locker room senses it, Mendy no longer has a place, his departure is a matter of time.