Carlo Ancelotti phoned Real Madrid to make transfer happen – and ended up their new boss

Carlo Ancelotti left Everton in the summer of 2021 to return to Real Madrid, and the veteran manager has now opened up on his “unexpected” departure in his new book

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that his shock move from Everton to Real Madrid in 2021 was an “unexpected” twist. The current Brazil national team manager initially contacted the Spanish giants to lure some players to Merseyside, but ended up making a surprise switch himself.

Ancelotti’s tenure at Everton lasted for a season and a half, during which he led the Toffees to two mid-table finishes and won one Premier League Manager of the Month award. After signing a four-and-a-half-year contract, fans were expecting to see Don Carlo steering their ship for another three years.

However, following Zinedine Zidane’s departure from Madrid, the seasoned manager resigned from his post at Everton in the summer of 2021 and made a return to his former club. In his new book, The Dream, Ancelotti reveals that this off-season move wasn’t part of his original plan.

He said: “As the season came to a close, I challenged some of the players who I thought were not as motivated as they should be. If they wanted to leave, they could and they should. I would go and find replacements who could make a more positive contribution.

“It was in search of such players that I got on the phone to Real Madrid, asking if they had anyone who I could take on loan. And the conversation went in an unexpected direction.

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“The answer was that they didn’t. Obviously, everyone knew that they were also in the market for a new manager since Zidane had resigned for the second time, citing a lack of support from the club. To replace him they had lined up Massimiliano Allegri, who had won so many Scudetti at Juventus and led them to two Champions League finals.

“But at the last moment he decided to remain at Juventus. The voice on the other end of the line complained that there were no coaches out there.

“‘If no players,’ I said, ‘Could you use a new manager?’ ‘Do you know anybody?’ came the response. ‘Do you not remember what we did in 2014?’ I responded. There was a silence.”

Ancelotti went on to reveal the chat he had with Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, and how the following days passed in a blur. He said: “‘Maybe. I’ll speak with the president and get back to you.’ The next day I was on a train when my phone rang. I looked at the screen and saw that it was Florentino Pérez. My first thought was, Please don’t let the train go into a tunnel now.

“It didn’t and we spoke. In 10 minutes, the deal was done. It was a Saturday. I went to my director of football at Everton and explained the situation. The club was a bit stunned because everyone assumed, me included, that I would stay at Everton for the three years remaining on my contract.

“But that is football. Coaches rarely get to decide when they leave a job – I certainly didn’t at Real – so they shouldn’t be criticised when they do. This was too good an opportunity to ignore. The two clubs quickly agreed compensation and, three days after I spoke to the president, I was presented to the Spanish media.”

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