Madrid stars blasted as ‘too individual’

Just under a year ago, Carlo Ancelotti was being tossed into the air at Wembley as Real Madrid players toasted clinching a record-extending 15th European Cup in the club’s history.

The act followed the sight of Ancelotti dancing with his squad around the trophy, which he had secured for a record fifth time as manager.

Real Madrid’s celebrations highlighted a club pulling in the same direction, with the connection between the veteran Italian coach and his squad central to the triumph.

Now, it is all change at Real Madrid, with Ancelotti on his way out of the club to take charge of the Brazil national team and the club’s former midfielder Xabi Alonso poised to take the hot seat.

Alonso looks set to inherit a different environment to the one on display 12 months ago, amid reports of numerous clashes between players throughout the campaign. One of which has reportedly left Brazilian star Rodrygo deciding he does not want to play for the club again.

Real Madrid stars have been publicly critical of their team-mates during the season, having seen their Champions League and LaLiga title defences fall short in embarrassing fashion.

Los Blancos were dumped out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals with a 5-1 demolition by Arsenal over two legs.

A trio of Real Madrid players were sent off in a fractious Copa del Rey exit to Barcelona earlier this month, while a 4-3 Clascio defeat on Sunday effectively saw their Catalan rivals clinch the LaLiga title and expose Real Madrid’s frailties.

With Real Madrid set to miss out on silverware for the first time since the 2018-19 season, it is no surprise the Spanish giants have been more open to allowing Ancelotti to leave. His exit to Brazil, perhaps, allows the legendary Real Madrid boss to exit through the front door, rather than president Florentino Perez having to dismiss him.

Ancelotti’s departure follows Brazil’s long-term courtship of the 65-year-old, a saga which has rumbled on for over two years, with the deal finally announced on Monday.

The Italian had one year left on his contract at the Bernabeu, but a deal has been brokered by businessman Diego Fernandes, on behalf of the Brazil Football Confederation. − Daily Mail.