Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti is reportedly ‘close’ to joining Rangers as the club’s 20th permanent manager.
Reports in Italy had suggested Rangers are eyeing Ancelotti as the permanent successor to Philippe Clement, with the 35-year-old serving under legendary father Carlo in the Spanish capital.
But with Carlo Ancelotti publicly agreeing a deal to take over at Brazil this summer, news has quickly spread in Spain that Rangers are close to agreeing a deal with his son.
However the swoop for Davide Ancelotti isn’t quite cut and dry yet with the future of legendary ex-Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas potentially crucial to any deal at Ibrox.
Davide Ancelotti ‘close’ to becoming next Rangers manager
Firstly, credit to Gianluca DiMarzio, who broke news of Rangers’ interest in Davide Ancelotti over the weekend.
DiMarzio claimed that Rangers are ‘pushing’ to convince Ancelotti to move to Ibrox with fresh US investment on the horizon.
Dave King reckons the Rangers takeover will be completed in mid-June with Rangers already appointing Kevin Thelwell to the position of sporting director.
But the links took on a fresh complexion when Carlo Ancelotti – who Davide has served under at Bayern Munich, Everton, Napoli and now Real Madrid – agreed a deal to join up with a wounded Brazil side this summer.
Now, Spanish outlet AS Diario, who are widely regarded as amongst the most reputable sources in Spain, are reporting that Davide Ancelotti will now likely be moving to Rangers.
| Davide Ancelotti’s former clubs (assistant manager) | Years active |
| Bayern Munich | 2016-2017 |
| Napoli | 2018-2019 |
| Everton | 2019-2021 |
| Real Madrid | 2021-2025 |
Interestingly, the report claims that Davide Ancelotti will first work with father Carlo in the Brazil set-up, being a part of the South American nation’s coaching set-up for clashes with Ecuador (06/06) and Paraguay (10/06) before embarking on his solo career.
English coach Paul Clement will also be joining up with Carlo Ancelotti in Brazil, allowing Davide to move on to his first job in full-time management.
The move would represent a risk for Rangers given Ancelotti’s lack of first-team managerial experience, whilst at the same time the highly-rated Ancelotti could be taking a gamble on the project at Ibrox.
Davide Ancelotti to Rangers could yet hit Serie A hitch
Whilst AS Diario suggest that it is very likely Davide Ancelotti will be the next Rangers manager, there are a couple of stipulations.
The report suggests that Ancelotti will form a backroom staff alongside another of Carlo Ancelotti’s assistants in Francesco Mauri.
It’s claimed that the US takeover has swayed Davide Ancelotti towards Rangers, with the promise of investment and the opportunity to play at the top level of European football attractive to the Italian.
At the same time, it’s being claimed that Ancelotti has turned down lucrative opportunities in Saudi Arabia to make the switch to Rangers.
But – and this is something to keep a close eye on for Rangers fans – the deal could depend on the future of Como manager Cesc Fabregas.
The AS Diario report is clear that ‘nothing has been signed’ with the Serie A upstarts also an interested party in Ancelotti’s services.
Xabi Alonso looks nailed on to become the next manager of Real Madrid after Carlo Ancelotti leaves the famous Spanish club this summer.
With Fabregas potentially set to be offered the job at Bayer Leverkusen – a role vacated by Alonso – Como could yet convince Ancelotti to join them in Italy and suddenly Rangers find themselves at the centre of a managerial merry-go-round.
But all things being equal, there are now some increasingly loud sounds from Europe that Rangers have finally got their man.
