‘Ancelotti wasn’t a club man’

Rafa Benitez will not be given any more power at Real Madrid than Carlo Ancelotti, with Florentino Perez still having the final say on transfers.

El Pais reports that Perez decided to let Ancelotti go because there was a feeling the Italian was quietly challenging the President’s authority with his handling of Gareth Bale, Lucas Silva and Asier Illarramendi.

Perez was not, however, involved to a great extent in the hiring of Benitez, leaving general manager Jose Angel Sanchez to hire a new Coach and only signing off on the appointment.

Ancelotti is accused of letting the side’s fitness slide but El Pais suggests that’s not accurate, and instead is being used to justify why Ancelotti had to go.

It’s alleged that Ancelotti was never a favourite of Perez’s closest confidantes and his treatment of Bale, Silva and Illarra was the reason, as it showed he wasn’t a ‘club man’ and didn’t have faith in the club’s strategy.

El Pais add that Madrid have been attempting to make it look like Benitez is in a stronger position than Ancelotti when in reality he isn’t and Perez remains the arbiter of transfers, both in and out.

It’s also claimed that Perez was most interested in hiring former Borussia Dortmund Coach Jurgen Klopp but it was felt the German would be unwilling to work under the constraints in place at Santiago Bernabeu.

Tags Carlo Ancelotti Florentino Perez Rafa Benitez
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