The only thing that is said to have bothered Carlo Ancelotti in his very impressive career is that he never took the step up from being an assistant for Italy to becoming national team manager. – Brazil, which is undeniably the best national team in the world in history, has been trying for a long time to convince the 65-year-old to quit Real Madrid and take over their national team.
So far, they have not succeeded and it is not at all certain that Ancelotti, who has won the Champions League five times, will cross the pond when he leaves Real Madrid.
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It is now reasonably obvious after the exit from the Champions League and the gap to Barcelona in La Liga that Real Madrid are looking for a new manager. According to Sky, talks have been initiated with Xabi Alonso’s representatives.
“Now is not the time to discuss the future,” Alonso said as a comment, according to the BBC.
Real Madrid, who are four points behind Barcelona, host Atheletic Club at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday for what could be Carlo Ancelotti’s last La Liga game.
Earlier this week, Sky Sports reported that Real Madrid are expected to part ways with the 65-year-old Italian manager after the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26.
Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg reports that Xabi Alonso’s representatives have recently held talks with Real Madrid. Leverkusen is described as “not surprised” and is now just waiting for the Spaniard’s decision: whether he wants to stay – or leave.
According to reports, Leverkusen expect to receive between €15-20 million if Real Madrid want to buy the successful coach, whose contract runs until 2026. This will be among the most expensive coaching transfers ever.
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The most expensive coaching transfers ever
Over the course of the 21st century, the increase in transfer fees for players has received a lot of attention – and sometimes criticism – from football fans. But something that has gone under the radar is that clubs now also pay significant sums to bring in coaches. Once considered unsung heroes, coaches today are just as highly valued and credited for success as the players they manage.
This has led clubs to spend large sums of money to secure high-profile managers, whether in the Premier League or other leagues, in the hope that they can lead them to triumph. While not all of the coaches who have demanded large transfer fees have been successful, some have been worth every penny. Earlier this year, the Mirror revealed the 10 most expensive coaching transfers of all time, and with several recent hires also making it onto the list, this makes for interesting reading.
The 14 Most Expensive Trainers Ever
| Rank | Coach | Previous club | New club | Transfer fee (in pounds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Julian | Nagelsmann | RB Leipzig | Bayern Munich | £21.7 million |
| 2.Graham | Potter | Brighton | Chelsea | £21.5 million |
| 3.André | Villas-Boas | FC Porto | Chelsea | £13.3 million |
| 4.Vincent | Kompany | Burnley | Bayern Munich | £10.2 million |
| 5.Enzo | Maresca | Leicester City | Chelsea | £10 million |
| 6.Arne | Slot | Feyenoord | Liverpool | £9.4 million |
| 7.Rúben | Amorim | Sporting CP | Manchester United | £9.2 million |
| 8.Brendan Rodgers | Celtic | Leicester | £8.8 million | |
| 9.Rúben | Amorim | Braga | Sporting Lisbon | £8.6 million |
| 10.José | Mourinho | Inter Milan | Real Madrid | £6.9 million |
| 11.José | Mourinho | FC Porto | Chelsea | £5.2 million |
| 12= | Brendan Rodgers | Swansea City | Liverpool | £5 million |
| 12= | Ronald Koeman | Southampton | Everton | £5 million |
| 12= | Maurizio Sarri | Napoli | Chelsea | £5 million |
Note: The list reflects reported transfer sums in pounds and may vary based on sources. Some amounts may also include clauses or bonuses.
