By now we’re long disillusioned of any notion Carlo Ancelotti will stay at Paris Saint-Germain. He’s going to Real Madrid, with the sides waiting for ancillary pieces to fall into place before confirming the shuffle. The biggest piece: Identifying a successor at the Parc de Princes.
It’s a topic we’ve begun openly discussing, with the likes of André Villas-Boas, Michael Laudrup, and Guus Hiddink linked with a move to the French champions. But with each of those men currently employed (Tottenham, Swansea, Anzhi), it may be a while before this puzzle comes together. If PSG finds their man we may hear about it, but formalities may be held up while another club’s sent on a search to find yet another manager. After all, that’s essentially what’s happened with Ancelotti’s move to the southwest.
As noted today by Marca, the whole process has left Ancelotti impatient - an understandable feeling, but one his current employers shouldn’t give a second thought. Under contract in Paris, Ancelotti is breaking his deal to move to Madrid. It’s not a rare occurrence in world soccer, but if PSG want to take their sweet time while working through the inconvenience, Ancelotti and Real have to respect their decision.
That, according to the report, is exactly what’s happening:This means that Real Madrid will have to wait until PSG has signed and sealed Ancelotti’s replacement, and not worry about the bad image this impasse is having on the forward strategy of the club.
Sources at Real Madrid were quite relaxed about the question of the new manager on Sunday. Ancelotti’s signing is a certainty, and Real Madrid and PSG have almost reached an agreement about the terms of the transfer. The two clubs are friends, and therefore the negotiation process of the French club for signing a new manager has to be respected.
The wait should prove inconsequential. At a club like Real Madrid, summer transfer business will proceed as usual regardless of when Ancelotti arrives. Florentino Perez is going to target a name or two. The rest of the sporting staff will continue pursing their long-term targets. As long as Ancelotti arrives before players are called back to Madrid, the club won’t miss a beat.
For now, though, Ancelotti gets to live with the inconveniences born of breaking a contract to join another club.
