Real Madrid line up 'ideal' Carlo Ancelotti replacement as they consider managerial change

Real Madrid have reportedly identified the "ideal person" to replace Carlo Ancelotti if results continue to disappoint – and internal discussions having already taken place ahead of potential switch.

It has been an uncharacteristically poor start to the season for Ancelotti and his Los Blancos side. At the end of October, they suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to bitter rivals Barcelona.

And then just days later, Madrid fell to back-to-back home defeats and their second loss in the Champions League group stage as they were beaten convincingly by AC Milan.

After that game against Milan, internal discussions around Ancelotti's replacement intensified, according to Spanish publication Relevo, who claim director of football Santiago Solari is Florentino Perez's first choice.

Perez was said to be unhappy with numerous aspects of the defeat against Milan on November 5, including the 'ostracism' of Arda Guler and Endrick, and a conversation took place between Solari and the Madrid board.

The report adds: "The president has full confidence in Solari's performance and the club sees him as the ideal person to take charge of such a complex mission which, as was demonstrated days later with the resounding victory against Osasuna, is totally manageable.

Solari, who took interim charge of Real Madrid following the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui in 2018, is believed to maintain a very close relationship with 'many of the pillars of the dressing room'.

Solari and former Real Madrid teammate Roberto Carlos. Image credit: Getty

Back in August, Ancelotti revealed that the Madrid job would likely be his last in club football following a trophy-laden 26-year managerial career.

“I think it will be my last club, I have to say” Ancelotti told the Obi One Podcast.

“If there would be an opportunity for a national team, I don’t know. I’m not so excited to be in a national team for the fact that I would lose what I like more, the day-by-day. The day-by-day I like. To be here, to prepare the training, to talk to the players, to prepare the games.

“This is my season number 29 as a coach. It’s true that I have won a lot but imagine the number of titles I lost. I lost a lot.”

Ancelotti added: “I had the luck, I went to the best team in England, in Spain, in Germany, I had the luck. But I was able to adapt to the culture. I tried to learn the languages. I learnt English, Spanish, French, I was not able to learn German, it’s impossible — not difficult, impossible!”