Florentino Pérez is not looking for a manager, but his search is not over
Carlo Ancelotti, it appears, is safe in his position for another year. Which in itself is an oxymoronic statement when it comes to Real Madrid, where the sack lurks under the bed at all times. Yet after winning his tenth trophy with Real Madrid, and completing the available set in just under two seasons, Florentino Pérez listened to the crowd, and gave the Italian the thumbs up with the whole Colisseum watching.
“I don’t want to hear anymore about that topic, he has a contract and we are delighted with him,” grumbled the elusive Pérez, who has a John Terry-esque knack for piping up when the trophies are being handed out. Ancelotti himself has maintained that he wants to finish that contract despite the courting from Brazil and CBF President Ednaldo Rodrigues. This month it escalated from sideways glances and flirtatious comments among third parties into an outright declaration of desire.
Ancelotti looks as if he will be preparing Los Blancos for another assault on, well, everything, once again this summer. There is, however, a stone in his shoe. One of the reasons Ancelotti was appointed is that he rarely complains, and when he does, there are only suggestions of a rankle-ment, rather than direct requests. He is nearly as good at managing up as he is down.
Where the Italian has come under pressure though is in La Liga - where the grind and grit are measured, where the hunger has to be just as present at Son Moix as it does at the Cívitas Metropolitano. Carletto has pointed out that until recently they were on a similar pace as they set last season, only they were bested by Barcelona. An uninspiring, but grizzly winning side domestically, whose lack of dazzle has hurt both themselves and their rivals.
If Pérez wants to avoid valuable energy and focus being wasted on Ancelotti’s personal future in March again next year - although this seems difficult without renewing him beforehand - he must bring him a striker. Karim Benzema was the Ballon d’Or last season, but has been available only in fits and bursts. While several veterans at Valedebebas are putting up a remarkably good fight against Father Time, there is a good chance that Benzema is fitter than this season, but still available much less often than last campaign.
Real Madrid were competing on all fronts this season, with a curiously timed World Cup and a schedule that has drawn out irritation from Ancelotti - along with everyone else in football and their families. So the load should be reduced, but will still need to be shared better. What if the seemingly bionic Vinícius Júnior picks up an injury?
Over the course of the season, Ancelotti has used Rodrygo Goes, Marco Asensio, and occasionally Álvaro Rodríguez when Benzema has been absent, but just as many points have been squandered with Frenchman looking weary on the pitch. With Real Madrid potentially pursuing a superstar signing in place of Benzema in 2024, it’s a tricky brief to bring in a sufficiently good alternative that will be content with a secondary role, but will maintain the required intensity. A role that could well decrease again the following season, with Endrick Felipe arriving in two summers time.
Maybe Rodríguez is that player. It’s an area Los Blancos have struggled with in recent years. Only this July will Pérez be able to forget about Mariano Díaz and Luka Jovic for good, €89m lighter for it. Still, if Real Madrid are serious about giving Ancelotti the tools to succeed in La Liga next season, then the brains trust must swing into action. Keeping him without doing so would be a poor way of repaying his good work, knowing how he will be treated for a similar league campaign next season.