Carlo Ancelotti's Struggle with Gareth Bale's Position at Real Madrid

Former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed in his new book, "Quiet Leadership: Winning Hearts, Minds and Matches," that he faced pressure from club president Florentino Perez to alter Gareth Bale's position within the team. Since joining Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur for €100 million in the summer of 2013, Bale has primarily played on the right side of a three-man attack, alongside notable players Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. However, both Bale and his agent, Jonathan Barnett, expressed a preference for a more central No. 10 role.

ESPN

Ancelotti recounts a pivotal moment in March when he received a call from Madrid's general director, Jose Angel Sanchez, indicating that Perez wanted to discuss Bale's situation. During their meeting, Perez informed Ancelotti that Bale's agent had approached him regarding the player's dissatisfaction with his position. Ancelotti emphasized that he could not restructure the entire team to accommodate one player's preferences, stating, "It was impossible for me to change the system as it wasn't just one position, it was the whole team."

ESPN

Following the conversation with Perez, Ancelotti took it upon himself to address the matter directly with Bale. He communicated the concerns raised by Bale's agent and reiterated the challenges of altering the team's formation mid-season. Ancelotti suggested that they could explore positional changes during the upcoming preseason, but he maintained that immediate adjustments were not feasible.

ESPN

After Ancelotti's departure at the end of the 2014-15 season, his successor, Rafa Benitez, implemented a new 4-2-3-1 formation that positioned Bale as a central playmaker. This change initially benefited Bale's performance; however, it coincided with a decline in the overall effectiveness of the team. Current coach Zinedine Zidane has reverted to Ancelotti's preferred 4-3-3 formation, which has led to improved results for Real Madrid, including a strong title race against Barcelona and a qualification for the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid on May 28.

ESPN

While Ancelotti's management style and decisions have been praised, there are dissenting views regarding the handling of Bale's position. Critics argue that failing to adapt the team's structure to leverage Bale's unique talents may have hindered both the player's and the team's potential during Ancelotti's tenure.

ESPN

• “I told him that I knew that his agent had spoken to the president and asked him why he didn't come to speak directly with me about what he wanted.” — Carlo Ancelotti, Former Real Madrid Coach

ESPN

• “' "I explained to him what I had said to the president, how it was impossible for me to change the system as it wasn't just one position, it was the whole team.” — Carlo Ancelotti, Former Real Madrid Coach

ESPN

In summary, Ancelotti's tenure at Real Madrid was marked by tension over Gareth Bale's positioning, highlighting the complexities of balancing player preferences with team strategy.

ESPN