Soccer News & Notes: Real Madrid Vice President Confirms Rafael Benitez Move As New Manager?
Real Madrid could finally see a Spaniard back to manage its team. The Spanish club's Vice President Eduardo Fernandez de Blas has hinted that Napoli coach Rafael Benitez is set to return to his hometown to lead the Los Blancos.
In a recent club event, de Blas may have hinted that the former Real Madrid youth coach would have a homecoming to lead the senior team.
De Blas lauded the outgoing Carlo Ancelotti when he seemed to have confirmed Benitez' appointment.
"I'll tell you one thing, Carlo Ancelotti is a real phenomenon," said the vice president to Spanish outlet AS. "We give our thanks to him. Until three days ago, he was, for me, the best coach in the world, just as two years ago it was Jose Mourinho, and as from this week will be Rafa Benitez."
But while the official praised Benitez' achievement while in Madrid, some fans seem unimpressed with his words.
One club member interrupted the vice president's speech to express his disapproval at Ancelotti's termination, added AS.
"You've sacked the best coach," exclaimed one member. But De Blas was gracious to say that, "He was an exceptional coach, a gentleman and a person I'm very fond of and that is something shared by most Madrid fans."
"I'm looking forward to July 30 when we see the best 30 players in the world at the disposition of the best coach in the world," finished De Blas.
While Real Madrid and Benitez have yet to make a formal announcement, even Ancelotti's agent Ernesto Brozetti thinks the deal is "99 percent" done to have the 55-year-old coach the Galacticos, according to ESPN FC.
In 2013, Benitez expressed his desire to coach Madrid and called it his "sweetheart" as he was in-charge of Chelsea in an interim status.
Club president Florentino Perez told the media in last week's press conference that they expect to announce Real Madrid's new coach in the coming days.
"Next week we will know the name of the new manager of Real Madrid. With our great team, talent and hard work, we will be able to give satisfaction and happiness to our fans and members," said Perez. "I want to publicly say thank you to Carlo Ancelotti for these two years, for his hard work and all his affection and tell him this is still his house and his home."
Ancelotti was let go from the club after he failed to lead the team to win any major tournament last season. That led the management to find a suitable replacement that could inject new life into Real Madrid in the upcoming season.
Benitez was reportedly the favorite to replace the relieved coach. Speculations grew when Perez said during the media conference to announce Ancelotti's termination that Madrid prefers the new coach to "effectively speak Spanish."
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