Revealed: Real’s three-man shortlist to lead CWC amid Ancelotti future doubt

Real Madrid are reportedly considering three managers to lead their Club World Cup campaign should Carlo Ancelotti leave ahead of the tournament.

Ancelotti’s future at the Bernabeu is in doubt following Real’s 5-1 aggregate defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night.

The 65-year-old is being strongly linked with the Brazil job after Dorival Junior was sacked in the wake of his country’s 4-1 humiliation at the hands of rivals Argentina in World Cup qualifying last month.

Reports have claimed Ancelotti could leave Madrid as early as April 26 after the Copa del Rey final.

Intermediaries have held talks with the Italian with Brazil are keen to install a new coach before the next international window in June rather than waiting until August.

Spanish newspaper Marca have reported that Real Madrid hierarchy are exploring managerial options for the Club World Cup, with the tournament seen as a priority for club president Florentino Perez.

The Spanish giants are claimed to have made Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso their top target for the role on a permanent basis, with the club's former star favourite to return to Madrid in the summer.

While Real Madrid are reportedly considering activating Alonso's release clause, there are doubts over whether the Spaniard would take charge in June.

Alonso would have minimal time with the players ahead of the tournament if he took charge, with La Liga's season ending on May 25 and Real Madrid's Club World Cup campaign starting on June 18.

Several Real Madrid players would also feature in international fixtures ahead of the tournament.

Real Madrid chiefs are said to be weighing up whether to place club legend Raul or Santiago Solari in charge on an interim basis as an alternative.

Raul, who scored 323 goals in 741 appearances for Real Madrid, has served as the head coach of their reserve team since 2019.

Solari has been working as Real Madrid's director of football since December 2023, having returned to the club the previous year after being sacked as manager of Mexican side America.

The Argentine, who played 208 times for the club, previously served as Real Madrid manager for five months during the 2018-19 season.

Solari was sacked following a 4-1 home defeat to Ajax which saw the club crash out of the Champions League.

Real Madrid have won the Club World Cup a record five times in its previous guise, with the summer's tournament in the United States the first under FIFA's expanded 32-team format.

Los Blancos will face Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, Pachuca from Mexico and Austria's Red Bull Salzburg in the group stages.