Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid reach exit agreement

Tom Weber

Updated: 5 May 2025 17:37 BST
4 min read

Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have finally managed to reach an agreement on the latter's departure, according to The Athletic.

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The Italian coaching legend has been expected to leave Los Blancos for weeks and to assume a new position as the manager of Brazil's senior men's national team.

Last week, it seemed as though Ancelotti's exit was only a matter of time as Brazil had formally managed to agree terms with him. However, the deal hit an unexpected roadblock when it emerged that Real Madrid were refusing to greenlight his departure.

This was due to the club and Ancelotti not managing to settle on the conditions of his exit. The 65-year-old's contract is still due to run for another year, which means that he would be owed his remaining salary should his deal be terminated.

Real Madrid, it was claimed, were not willing to let him go on these conditions, resulting in some confusion over his move to Brazil.

Ancelotti to leave Real Madrid

However, it was always clear that this stumbling block was only delaying the inevitable, much to the annoyance of the Brazilian federation and Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, where head coach Xabi Alonso is expected to succeed Ancelotti.

According to The Athletic, Real Madrid and Ancelotti have now, at last, managed to find common ground and reached an agreement on the terms of his departure.

© IMAGO - Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso

The official announcement of Ancelotti's exit is expected to come before the end of the current LaLiga season, and potentially as early as next week after Sunday's Clasico clash with Barcelona.

Madrid have yet to make a decision on who will lead the team at this summer's Club World Cup. Santiago Scholari could take interim charge, although they could also try to bring Alonso's arrival forward.

Talks with Leverkusen and Alonso's camp are already taking place. The club legend is keen to return, but Los Blancos will have to pay a compensation fee believed to be in the region of €15 million for the former midfielder.

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