Ancelotti reveals Modric to Rangers transfer truth

Cameron Smith

10 Apr 2026 12:01 CDT
3 min read

Davide Ancelotti has admitted that he could’ve asked Luka Modric to join Rangers last summer if he had been appointed as the new head coach at Ibrox.

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Ancelotti, the son of Carlo, was one of several candidates for the Rangers job ahead of the 2025-26 season and he was interviewed by the Scottish giants before they opted to appoint ex-Southampton boss Russell Martin.

However, Martin lasted just 17 games in charge before being sacked, with Danny Rohl turned to as his successor in October following a dismal start to the season.

After failing to win the race for the Rangers job, Ancelotti was hired by Botafogo, but he was sacked in December and he has now returned to his role as his father’s assistant manager for Brazil.

It was initially believed that Ancelotti had turned down the chance to manage Rangers last summer, but he has now confirmed that he was rejected by the Ibrox outfit.

Speaking to BBC Sounds (via The Daily Record), Ancelotti said: “Rangers were a club that I had conversations with and had an interview process with, as always happens now in modern football.

“I went through this process, but in the end they had to pick one and they didn't pick me. But the process went well and my relationship with the club was good and I appreciated the fact they considered me for the job.

“At interviews, you have to answer a lot of questions about your philosophy, about how you train, about how you cope with the pressure and the media. But at the end of the day, until you see a manager working on a daily basis, it's difficult to evaluate.”

© IMAGO - Davide Ancelotti was linked with the Rangers job last summer

Luka Modric to Rangers truth

Amid links that he could join Rangers last year, it was suggested that Ancelotti may tempt the aforementioned Modric to join the Scottish giants following their time together at Real Madrid.

The Croatia legend was available on a Bosman deal last summer and he eventually completed a free agent move to AC Milan in July.

Asked about the possibility of signing Modric if he had been appointed by Rangers, Ancelotti added: “I could have asked him...why not? Rangers are a big club, with a big history in Europe that always plays European competition. And Luka Modric needed to prepare for the World Cup.

“In the end, he decided to do what he is doing now - he decided to go and play with a big club and someone that he could represent. But honestly, I didn't ask anyone to go to Rangers because I didn't get the job.”

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