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CARLO ANCELOTTI IMPRESSED BY XABI ALONSO’S REAL MADRID INFLUENCE

Carlo Ancelotti defends Xabi Alonso from early criticism at Real Madrid, calling his start "fantastic." The Brazil coach says Alonso has the team performing well and that adapting to intense scrutiny is part of the job at the Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti Impressed by Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid Influence
Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Carlo Ancelotti, the former manager of Real Madrid, shared his thoughts on Xabi Alonso's initial experiences as manager in the Spanish capital. After what appears to be a strong start, the Brazil coach believed that any criticism of Alonso was exaggerated.

With a half-fit squad and a Club World Cup to play in, Alonso arrived under trying circumstances, cutting short his preseason before the current campaign began. Speaking in an interview with Diario AS, Ancelotti agreed with the widespread belief that, when playing, Alonso had seemed like a good coach.

"Yes, Xabi.I also had him at Bayern. An excellent visionary football player. I had faith that he could succeed. And he is doing fantastically.

Ancelotti once said, "One thing I learnt at Madrid is..."

With two losses to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool, the former followed by a tie away to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, Los Blancos have won 13 of their 16 games this season. There was not much more that could be expected of Alonso, according to Ancelotti.

"I am unable to provide him any guidance. Because I want to know how the Brazilians are doing, I watch every Real Madrid game, and I believe the team is performing admirably. They have won nearly all of their games, but football is not necessarily a game you can win. You must occasionally draw.

A draw here is the precursor to a crisis, which is something I discovered while playing for Real Madrid (laughs). Do not make jokes. You must adjust to it. As we already know, results are the best way to assess a coach, and thus far, the outcomes have been outstanding. They are in the top eight of the Champions League and at the top of the league. What more is there to ask of Xabi?

Last season, Alonso resolved a major problem for Real Madrid.


Ancelotti attributed Real Madrid's difficulties in his final season, in part, to injuries, since the team lost all four of its starting backs for significant portions of the year. According to the Italian, losing that strong base was crucial, and Ancelotti believed Alonso would succeed at the Bernabeu.

"Yes, of course. I see a powerful team that is particularly good at the back and on offence. Bellingham is back, and Mbappe is doing great. Xabi can succeed without any issues, in my opinion.

The fact that a large portion of the criticism directed at Alonso's management seems to be coming from the dressing room is perhaps his biggest problem to date, rather than the outcomes. Following Vinicius Junior's tirade, some stories have surfaced indicating that Valdebebas could use some improvement.

WHY AC MILAN ARE TURNING TO REAL MADRID’S BACKUP ANDRIY LUNIN TO REPLACE MIKE MAIGNAN

AC Milan is preparing a €15M bid for Andriy Lunin. Discover why the Real Madrid keeper is now the favourite to take over at San Siro.

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Is Andriy Lunin The Solution To Milan

AC Milan might go after Andriy Lunin from Real Madrid this summer, according to Defensa Central. Apparently, Milan is having trouble getting Mike Maignan to sign a new contract.

So, Lunin is high on their list as a possible replacement. He did sign a deal to stay with Real Madrid until 2030, but Milan is still watching him while things with Maignan are up in the air.

Reportedly, Milan gave Maignan a final offer of €7 million per season, but he's not sure about it. Because of this, the club is now scouting for other options.

If Maignan leaves, Milan's bosses plan to offer between €10 million and €15 million for Lunin. They think that's a fair price for a keeper with his experience.

Real Madrid usually doesn't do winter transfers. The club has already said they won't sell anyone in January, except for loaning Endrick to Lyon. So, they won't even think about a deal for Lunin until the season is over.

Lunin turned down offers from Turkish clubs last summer to compete for his spot at Real Madrid. The chance to start every week at Milan could change his mind. At 26, he's currently Courtois' backup. A move in 2026 could give him the playing time he wants. Manchester United was also interested in Lunin last summer, so there'll be plenty of teams after him.

Why Real Madrid Should Ask for More or Keep Lunin

Lunin showed what he's capable of when he filled in for Courtois. He has the skills to play at the highest level. He saved Real Madrid many times, including in important Champions League games. Because of his input, his value has increased.

The rumoured price of €10 million to €15 million seems too low. Lunin was key to Real Madrid's defence for most of the 2023/24 season. Real Madrid should ask for way more if they decide to sell. If not, they should keep him as a backup in case Courtois gets hurt again.

Selling him for that little would be a mistake. It’s almost impossible to find another backup as good as him for that price these days. It's hard to keep a keeper who wants to be the number one, but Xabi Alonso thinks having a deep squad is very important.

Real Madrid needs to think about the money versus the risk on the field. Letting a talent like Lunin go for cheap would be a bad move. Madrid should keep him unless Milan makes a much better offer. Having two top-notch goalkeepers creates a sense of security that money can't often buy.

MARKET REPORT: WHY CHELSEA IS SUDDENLY THE FAVORITE TO RESIGN ANTONIO RüDIGER

Antonio Rüdiger is considering a shock return to Chelsea as Real Madrid pause contract talks. Read why Xabi Alonso is hesitant.

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Chelsea to Explore a Free Transfer for Antonio Rüdiger

Word on the street is that Antonio Rudiger might head back to Chelsea. The Real Madrid player is thinking about coming back to the Premier League. His deal with Real Madrid runs out in 2026, and he hasn't agreed to a new one yet. There's talk he might leave next summer and maybe even team up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.

Contract Talks On Hold

Back in November, Marca said that Rudiger and Real Madrid started talking about a new contract, but those talks are on pause now. His current contract is up at the end of the season. They started talking months ago, threw some numbers around, and both sides seemed to want a deal.

But they stopped talking after Rudiger hurt his muscle in September. They decided it wasn't right to make a deal while he was getting better.

Back to Chelsea?

Rudiger played for Chelsea for five years, winning a Champions League title, before moving to Real Madrid in 2022. Now, he might go back to Chelsea. There are rumours that Chelsea wants him back next summer, according to Diario AS.

Also, Paris Saint-Germain is interested, and Galatasaray is watching what's happening with him in Madrid.

Besides Europe, he's also wanted in Saudi Arabia. Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are thinking about trying to get him next year.

What Alonso Thinks

BILD said in October that Xabi Alonso, the Madrid boss, isn't totally sold on Rudiger. He thinks Rudiger has been getting injured too much and hasn't been playing consistently. Also, Dean Huijsen, who joined in the summer, has been playing great and has already won a starting spot. Huijsen and Eder Militao have been a solid pair in the back, but Militao got hurt recently.

Madrid Might Not Sign Two Defenders

Even with Rudiger's future up in the air, AS says that Madrid isn't looking to sign two defenders anymore. They were looking at Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool and Dayot Upamecano from Bayern Munich. Both of those guys might leave their clubs since they're in the last six months of their contracts.

There were reports that Real Madrid wasn't interested in Konate because he hadn't been playing well lately. They might still move next summer, but it probably won't be to Real Madrid.

Alonso's team plays Real Betis at home on January 4 after the winter break.

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