The word “Revolution” started getting thrown around with regards to Real Madrid in 2019. In the aftermath of Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure and an embarrassing 2018/19 season in both LaLiga and the Champions League, Real had an active summer transfer window that set the next five years in motion.
Although Eden Hazard was the centerpiece investment of the window as a nine-figure signing from Chelsea and one of the world’s best players, it was literally every other addition that made the difference for Los Merengues.
Hazard ended up being an unmitigated disaster, but Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius Junior, Ferland Mendy, and Eder Militao were all young signings who were regular starters on two Champions League winning teams.
Since then, Real Madrid have added a number of other outstanding young players to their ranks in Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, and, most recently, Kylian Mbappe.
Real Madrid have come a long way but still have a long way to go
All the while, Real Madrid waved goodbye to James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale, Isco, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Casemiro, Karim Benzema, and Toni Kroos as the old guard of the three-peat era has slowly shifted to a new set of superstars at the Santiago Bernabeu.
But even though Real Madrid are coming off a LaLiga and Champions League title triumph in the 2023/24 season, it still feels like they haven’t fully evolved to reach another peak.
The 2024/25 season has highlighted just how far Real Madrid still have to go. Barcelona have blown them out in multiple head-to-head meetings and are outperforming them in LaLiga, and even though Real Madrid have a great shot at winning both LaLiga and the Champions League again this season, they’ve mostly stumbled to wins and have rarely dominated.
According to a report from The Athletic’s Real Madrid beat reporter Mario Cortegana, manager Carlo Ancelotti is now reevaluating his future at the Bernabeu amidst continued speculation of a move for Xabi Alonso and the reeemerging rumors of a move to replace Dorival Junior as the Brazil national team coach.
As much as Ancelotti must be thanked for bringing two Champions League titles back to Real Madrid after taking over for Zinedine Zidane in 2021, the reality is that sacrificing Don Carlo may be needed for Real Madrid to fully evolve.
Without Benzema and Kroos as veteran coaches on the field in both the attack and midfield, Ancelotti’s tactical weaknesses in the modern game are becoming more exposed.
Real Madrid don’t have a structure with Ancelotti, and while they were able to overcome that in past seasons, Hansi Flick’s appointment at Barcelona threatens to set Real back because Ancelotti has been unable to hang with the German coach toe-to-toe.
There was a belief even before 2023 that Real Madrid needed to think about hiring a young manager to suit this modernized side, and while Carlo staved off his dismissal with a strong 2023/24 campaign, the reality is that Real were not tested nearly as much as they have been this season.
Ancelotti is owed a great debt of gratitude by Real Madrid, but with Alonso, a former club icon in the 2010s, clearly ready for the big time after leading Bayer Leverkusen to an undefeated season, the year 2025 looks like the opportune time for Real to strike with a coaching change.
It’s better to make a move like this one year too early than one year too late, and with Ancelotti himself reconsidering his future at the Bernabeu, it may be a sign that the legendary Italian manager himself realizes that his time is up – his second cycle has ended in Madrid, and leaving sooner will keep the memories beautiful.
Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.