Ancelotti's number two at Real Madrid up for debate

Ancelotti intends to manage with the help of his son Davide, but Madrid insist on offering him an assistant. The Italian wants to keep his own backroom staff for his second spell.

Antonio Pintus will be in charge of the Real Madrid's fitness team for the coming season, but Carlo Ancelotti's assistant coach has not yet been finalised. The Italian wants to hand the number two position to his son Davide (31), who has assistant coach since his father's time at Napoli and then at Everton. Real Madrid want someone close to Carletto from within the club. Since Ancelotti re-joined the club, Madrid have been pushing for Álvaro Arbeloa to work alongside the Italian. Arbeloa has his UEFA Pro licence.

Davide Ancelotti expected to be Madrid assistant

Ancelotti's first-born son Davide has been part of his staff since his previous spell at Madrid and has been given progressively more responsibility. Since 2017, at Bayern, he has been his right-hand man. Madrid, for their part, would prefer to have a Real Madrid man integrated into the coach's close-knit backroom staff and with Arbeloa they are trying to continue along the path of new coaches who are well connected to the club. Raúl, Xabi Alonso and before them Guti, Solari and Zidane have all worked at the club since retiring from glittering careers at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Among the six members of staff that Ancelotti expects to count on, will be Francesco Mauri, the son of Giovanni Mauri, the veteran fitness coach.

No Paul Clement return

Paul Clement was Ancelotti's number two in his last stint in charge of Los Blancos, but the Englishman will not be returning this time around. Clement also worked with Ancelotti at PSG, and just after his departure from Madrid he embarked on a solo career with Derby County and also the England Under-21s, before he returned to work with the Italian again during his spell at Bayern Munich. He is currently without a club after being sacked by Belgian side Cercle Brugge. Davide Ancelotti took his place and his father's plan is to keep it that way.