Ancelotti to Real Madrid

PSG manager Carlo Ancelotti looks set to be appointed as the new manager of Real Madrid, according to reports in both France and Spain.

According to ESPN, the Italian has asked PSG for permission to speak to the Spanish giants, and they no longer hold out much hope of keeping him after he emerged as Real’s first choice to replace the departing Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho was confirmed last month as leaving Madrid, and, as expected, rejoined former club Chelsea this week. Ancelotti, who also had a spell with Chelsea, will be given the task of improving on a disappointing season for the Spanish giants this year, as they finished runners-up in La Liga to Barcelona, and lost the Copa Del Rey final to local rivals Atletico Madrid.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, won the French Ligue 1 title with PSG this season, adding to an impressive trophy collection with two Champions League titles, as well as league wins in Serie A and the Premier League.

Real Madrid will have to pay around £5million in compensation to the Parisian club to sign Ancelotti, and they have subsequently been linked with the likes of Roberto Mancini and Laurent Blanc as replacements for the 53-year-old.

Juup Heynckes of Bayern Munich and Tottenham’s Andre Villas-Boas had also emerged as candidates to replace Mourinho at the Bernabeu.