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Carlo Ancelotti has returned to Real Madrid following the departure of Zinedine Zidane. The Italian manager had been overseeing a promising project at Everton but a call from his former club was too tempting to pass up. Ancelotti has previously managed Real Madrid and won the Champions League with them during his two-year stint from 2013 to 2015.
Carlo Ancelotti returns to Real Madrid
He also won the Copa Del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup during that time and is adored by the Santiago Bernabeu faithful. Ancelotti was also a hit with the players and shared a good working relationship with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez as well.
He also brought out the best in a number of players like Angel Di Maria and James Rodriguez during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu. He has maintained a reputation for improving players at every club he has managed.
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Without further ado, let's take a look at five Real Madrid players who could thrive under Carlo Ancelotti.
#5 Isco
Isco is reportedly the only player to have not wished Zinedine Zidane publicly on his way out. The Spaniard was in the doghouse under Zizou after falling down the pecking order. Isco was in fact tipped to leave this summer but Zidane's departure could change that.
Isco was quite an important part of the Real Madrid team during Carlo Ancelotti's time in charge. He scored 17 goals and provided 21 assists in 106 appearances under the Italian manager. The 29-year-old is waiting to be given a second chance at Real Madrid and he could very well be afforded that under Ancelotti.
Isco has played his best football under Julen Lopetegui and Ancelotti. It looked like his Real Madrid career was coming to an end but he might be given a new lease of life now.
#4 Marco Asensio
Carlo Ancelotti has loved working with left-footed attacking midfielders and in Marco Asensio, he has a player of that exact mold. Players like Gareth Bale, Angel Di Maria and James Rodriguez enjoyed their best years at Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti.
Asensio has a skillset that's similar to James Rodriguez's. Asensio is 25 and is about to hit his peak. He couldn't have asked for a better coach at this point in time than Ancelotti given how well he has done with players of the same ilk.
Asensio showed glimpses of brilliance this past season but Zidane was not able to tap into it on a regular basis. However, it wouldn't be surprising if we start seeing the best of the 25-year-old now that Carlo Ancelotti is in charge.
#3 Fede Valverde
Fede Valverde is considered to be the next big thing in the Real Madrid midfield. Given that Luka Modric is 35 and is unlikely to play week in and week out, Los Blancos will expect Valverde to step up.
During his best spell for Real Madrid last season before his campaign was marred by injuries, Valverde became an integral part of Real Madrid's midfield. He operates higher up the pitch than the likes of Kroos and Modric and often join the attack from the right side of the pitch.
His versatility enables him to slot in anywhere in midfield. Valverde has shown that he can thrive in a box-to-box role just as well as he can in the role on a number 10.
Ancelotti was one of the best midfielders of his generation and he can bring the best out of Valverde. The technically proficient youngster could in fact be one of the faces of the new era under the new manager.
#2 Rodrygo Goes
Rodrygo Goes is arguably the best winger at Real Madrid right now. During his last stint as the manager of Los Blancos, Carlo Ancelotti was able to transform Angel Di Maria from a tricky winger into one of the best attackers in Europe. Like Rodrygo, Di Maria could operate down both flanks.
Ancelotti used Di Maria in a variety of positions, including central midfield. He will know that in Rodrygo, he has a player he can transform in a similar manner. The 20-year-old is still rough around the edges but Ancelotti's vast experience will help him iron out those shortcomings and become the player he can be.
#1 David Alaba
David Alaba is one of the best defenders in the world and the versatile Austrian has now joined Real Madrid. Ancelotti, like most managers these days, likes ball-playing defenders and Alaba's technical abilities will be put to good use.
Ancelotti has previously managed David Alaba at Bayern Munich and the latter was impressed by his man-management skills. In 2016, Alaba told Goal:
"He’s a really cool guy. I think he can get along really well with every single player, with young players but also with big players who have been here at the team for a long time. I think he has a good hand for that.
"Also, I think he’s doing a great job with the young players too. You can see that he has a lot of experience with that. There are reasons that he’s become such a successful coach
Alaba used to play at left-back and loved getting forward under Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich. As good as he is at centre-back, the 28-year-old can play well on the flanks and in midfield. Given the fact that Marcelo is likely to leave this summer, Alaba could be deployed on the left wing every once in a while.
He is someone that Ancelotti will know he can depend on and the partnership is expected to flourish for a second time.
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