Madrid VP confirms Benitez arrival

Real Madrid vice-President Eduardo Fernandez de Blas has inadvertently confirmed that Rafa Benitez will become their new Coach “as of next week”.

The 55-year-old has been the red-hot favourite to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at Los Blancos ever since the Italian’s dismissal last week, and the official appeared to pay credence to the speculation with a slip of his tongue.

“I’ll tell you one thing. Just one thing. Carlo Ancelotti is a real phenomenon. We give our thanks to him,” he said at a club event on Saturday.

“Until three days ago, he was the best Coach in the world, as was Jose Mourinho two years ago, and so will Rafa Benitez as of next week.

“[Ancelotti] was an outstanding Coach, a gentleman whom I have great affection for, and I think everyone else at Real Madrid does too.

“[Gareth] Bale is a player who is truly exceptional, and I’m proud to have him at Real Madrid.

“It seems we can be passionate Madridistas sometimes but then criticise ourselves.

“Of course, when new players arrive, we support them at the [Santiago] Bernabeu, and when they stop wearing our jerseys and score goals that eliminate us, we also support them.

“However, I’m among those who support the team, those who are Blanco and those who defend the Real Madrid badge.

“Often [we make] difficult [decisions], [ones that are] sometimes unpopular. When Ancelotti arrived, he had a seven percent referendum among members, as does Benitez now.

“However, Carlo now has more [to his name] than when he came, but we’re to make decisions, which we think are best for the club. We live and die by them.

“Forgive my tone, but I think when you defend something with passion and ardency, it must be defended with intensity, and I always defend the things I say.

“I’m excited and looking forward to July 30 to see how the best players in the world work under an exceptional Coach.”

Tags Carlo Ancelotti Rafa Benitez Rafael Benitez
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