Ancelotti to Ibrox: Five Real Madrid Stars Who Could Follow Davide to Rangers
With Davide Ancelotti looking set to take the reins at Ibrox as the new manager of Rangers, he is finally preparing to separate himself from his father, the legendary Carlo Ancelotti, as he departs his role as assistant at Real Madrid.
Rumours are swirling that he will bring current Madrid fitness coach Francesco Mauri as his assistant manager, along with several other members of Carlo’s backroom team. This comes as his father exits stage left from club football to take over the Brazil national team, where the schedule is far more sporadic and the backroom staff much smaller as a result.
But will Davide look to bring in any members of the Madrid playing squad? Given the Spanish side’s budget dwarfs that of the Scottish giants, such moves may sound unrealistic. However, with his connections, there are always possibilities. Here, we look at FIVE potential incoming transfers to Govan from the Spanish capital:
Jacobo Ramón
A highly rated young defender in the Real Madrid academy, Jacobo Ramón has been quietly impressing at youth and B team level with his composure on the ball and intelligent positioning.
He made his debut for the Madrid first team this season in a 5-1 Champions League win over RB Leipzig and a loan move to Rangers under Ancelotti could offer him a chance at senior football in a competitive environment and allow Davide to continue to shape his development personally.
Rangers have struggled defensively this season, with both Robin Propper and Leon Balogun struggling with pace, and while Ramón lacks in the experience department in comparison to the Rangers duo, he is very quick and would offer something different at the back next season.
Fran González
Another problem area for Rangers this season has been in goal, with Jack Butland’s form taking a dive off a very high cliff and Liam Kelly being decent but never number one standard. The club will surely be in the market for a new starting goalkeeper.
An option from Madrid may be teenage stopper Fran González. The 19-year-old, like Ramón, made his first team debut for Los Blancos this campaign, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to debut for the club since the legendary Iker Casillas in a 2-1 La Liga loss to Valencia.
While González is still very raw, his composure, reflexes, and distribution have already caught the eye of several top scouts across Europe. Standing at 6’3″, he commands his area with surprising authority for his age, and his shot-stopping ability is well beyond what one might expect from a teenager.
With Andriy Lunin and Thibaut Courtois on the books in Spain, the club is reportedly open to loaning him out for regular football.
With Rangers able to offer European football, guaranteed minutes, and a platform to shine, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.
Jesús Vallejo
Throughout his tenure at Real Madrid, Jesús Vallejo has been loaned out to several clubs, including Eintracht Frankfurt, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Granada CF, where he found more regular playing opportunities.
Given his experience and the need for regular first-team football, a move to a club like Rangers could be beneficial for both parties, especially with his Madrid contract expiring.
Rangers, as mentioned with Ramón, have faced challenges in their defensive lineup this season. With injuries and inconsistent performances affecting their backline, the addition of an experienced defender like Vallejo could provide much-needed stability and a consistent partner for John Souttar.
His experience in top European leagues and competitions could also be invaluable for Rangers, especially in their early Champions League qualifiers. With his weekly wage in line with the top earners at Ibrox, this one may be more realistic than one would first think.
Lorenzo Aguado
With James Tavernier’s obvious decline, it is time for Rangers to look long-term at their right back position that the captain has had nailed down for a decade. There is an obvious replacement at Madrid in Lorenzo Aguado.
At 22 years old, Aguado has only played a handful of times for the Madrid first team and is reportedly admired by Davide Ancelotti, who has seen his progress up close.
A loan move to Rangers would give him a platform to play regular senior football in a demanding environment, all while continuing to develop under a manager he already knows and trusts.
For Rangers, Aguado would fit the mould of a young Tavernier — a creative, goalscoring threat from full back — with the Spaniard netting 10 goals for lower league side RSC Internacional on a previous loan spell.
While Madrid may be hesitant to part with one of their emerging talents permanently, a season-long loan with a view to extension, or even a buy clause considering that he is now nearing his mid-twenties and is no longer a youth player, could be a win-win for all involved.
Luka Modrić
Now this one is the most unrealistic. Modrić is approaching 40 and on £358,000 per week. But with his 13-year stint in Madrid coming to an end this summer, could Ancelotti entice him to follow him to Scotland?
Unlikely — but what are his other realistic options besides retirement? MLS? Saudi Arabia? A return to Dinamo Zagreb? Rangers would be a competitive way to end his career over the initial two, but the lure of a return home may appeal more to the Croatian.
Unlikely as it is, so was the idea of Jermaine Defoe heading to Ibrox before the lure of former Gers boss Steven Gerrard. A new era — and anything is possible.
