As Real Madrid navigate a turbulent 2024/25 season, Carlo Ancelotti’s future at the Santiago Bernabéu dominates headlines. The Italian manager, a three-time Champions League winner with the club, faces mounting pressure from fans and media alike.
With inconsistent results, tactical criticism, and persistent rumors about a potential move to Brazil, his tenure is under the microscope. Central to this saga is his contract, a cornerstone that defines his commitment to Madrid amid speculation about replacements and his legacy.
Here’s a comprehensive look at Ancelotti’s situation at the moment –
The 2024/25 campaign has been a rollercoaster for Real Madrid. Seven losses across all competitions, including a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Barcelona, a 3-1 loss to AC Milan, and a 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg collapse against Arsenal, have left fans restless.
The Arsenal debacle, in particular, was a low point—Madrid were outclassed, prompting boos at the Bernabéu and a flood of #AncelottiOut posts on X. Supporters have zeroed in on Ancelotti’s substitutions, accusing him of sidelining young talents like Endrick (18), Arda Güler (20), and Brahim Díaz (25) in favor of veterans like Lucas Vázquez (33).
Against Arsenal, Vázquez entered at halftime, while Endrick and Güler saw minimal or no action, fueling fan frustration.
Beyond substitutions, critics point to a lack of midfield cohesion since Toni Kroos’s retirement, with Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni struggling to adapt. Injuries, notably to Dani Carvajal, have exposed squad depth issues, which some attribute to Ancelotti’s influence on recruitment.
Adding to the discontent is Ancelotti’s perceived complacency. His calm demeanor, once a strength, now irks fans who crave urgency.
After a 2-1 La Liga loss to Valencia on April 5, 2025, which left Madrid four points behind Barcelona, he acknowledged the title race was “more difficult” but offered no clear fixes.
Such comments have deepened the disconnect with supporters, who feel he underestimates the club’s sky-high expectations.
Amid this turmoil, Ancelotti’s contract remains the anchor of his Madrid story.
He returned for his second spell in the summer of 2021, signing a three-year deal set to expire in June 2024. In December 2023, with the team riding high after a 2022 Champions League triumph, Real Madrid extended his contract by two years, pushing the expiry to June 30, 2026.
This sole extension reflected faith in his ability to deliver, having secured two La Liga titles, three Champions Leagues, and a Copa del Rey since his return.
Financially, Ancelotti is handsomely rewarded, earning an estimated €11 million per year (gross), or roughly €211,538 per week before taxes. This places him among Europe’s highest-paid managers, with potential bonuses tied to silverware—a testament to his value despite current criticism.
However, the contract’s stability is at odds with the uncertainties he faces on the pitch now.
Reports suggest Ancelotti’s job hinges on a Champions League comeback against Arsenal or a La Liga title. Sports Illustrated noted that “only the Copa del Rey would not suffice” to save him, while News18 claimed his “head is on the chopping block” post-Arsenal.
Florentino Pérez, Madrid’s ruthless president, has a history of decisive action, and a trophy-less season could spell the end, contract or not. Ancelotti’s own words after Arsenal—“We lacked football”—hint at internal doubts, and The Guardian reported he’s privately admitted the team has been “out of sorts” all season.
Complicating matters are persistent links to the Brazilian national team. In 2023, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) courted Ancelotti, with president Ednaldo Rodrigues calling him their “dream” coach. He declined, prioritizing Madrid, but the rumors resurfaced in March 2025 after Brazil sacked Dorival Júnior following a 4-1 loss to Argentina.
The Athletic noted Ancelotti is “more open” due to the “wear and tear” of managing Madrid. His ties to Brazilian stars like Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo add credibility to the speculation. SPORTbible quoted him reaffirming loyalty to Madrid, saying, “I will never decide the date of my departure,” but Brazil’s urgency for a coach before the 2025 Club World Cup keeps the door ajar.
If Ancelotti’s time is nearing its end, potential replacements are already making waves. Xabi Alonso, the Bayer Leverkusen boss and former Madrid midfielder, leads the pack. His 2023/24 Bundesliga triumph has Madrid circling. Cesc Fàbregas, now at Como, is a wildcard being rumored, but his inexperience raises doubts. Jürgen Klopp, on sabbatical post-Liverpool, is a fan-driven fantasy online, lacking firm links. Davide Ancelotti, Carlo’s son and his assistant at Bernabeu, is being floated as an interim option, though his planned departure complicates this.
Ancelotti’s legacy—10 titles in his second Madrid spell, including a record-extending 15th Champions League in 2024—is monumental. Yet, football’s relentless demands spare no one. With his contract secure until 2026, he has time to turn things around, but the Arsenal second leg and La Liga run-in are make-or-break.
Fans, once adoring, now chant for change, and Brazil beckons as an escape. As Ancelotti navigates this storm, his €11 million deal is both a shield and a spotlight, tying him to a club where only success guarantees survival.
