Perez: Ancelotti knows Madrid

Florentino Perez has conceded that Carlo Ancelotti is the prime candidate to take over at Real Madrid, as he ‘knows the club’.

The Italian has been linked with the capital outfit to come in as Jose Mourinho’s replacement this summer, but has struggled so far to release himself from his Paris Saint-Germain contract.

“At this point we need a Coach who really knows us and the Italian Carlo Ancelotti knows us because four years ago I tried to sign him and could not,” Perez told EsRadio today.

“If he can get out of his PSG deal, we are happy, and if not, very well, but I do not think this issue will last long.”

There is uncertainty over what role Zinedine Zidane will take with the team, with it seen that he prefers a coaching position to that of sporting director that Perez has hinted at.

“What is certain is that he wants to be a Coach and I think he should start on a team that is not directly the first team at Real Madrid.

“He himself doesn’t want that. He could do as Aitor Karanka did with Jose Mourinho, with the next Coach, or he could train any team in the youth set-up, but mostly he will help shape improvements to the squad for next season.

“Anything that we can improve in the squad, we will, but we do not have any players for sale.

“It is early June, there is still a long way to go. With tranquillity we will do things better.

“Now we have to close the subject of the Coach and then talk about players.

“With me people do not have to worry. If there is a great player, everyone knows that I will try to sign him.”

Gonzalo Higuain is pushing for an exit this summer.

“I believe that at Real Madrid, having two players per position does not work,” commented Perez, in reference to Jose Mourinho’s believed preferred model.

“For player who does not have the status of first team player is not satisfied.

“Higuain and Benzema, for example, have not shown their level this season for that reason.”

Perez once more reflected on Jose Mourinho’s work at the club in his three years.

“Mourinho has ended the hegemony of Barcelona. We won the Copa del Rey against Barca, the Supercopa, La Liga in their field and in the last five games they have not won any.

“Of the minimum target, Mourinho has achieved this and then, with a little more luck, we could have won another title.

“I have won 13 titles, I think I have lost five or six finals. We have won everything, including titles that we had not previously won such as the UEFA Super Cup and one that not many have won, because we went 18 years without it, the Copa del Rey.”

Tags Ancelotti benzema Florentino Perez Higuain mourinho Paris Saint-Germain PSG Zidane
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