Carlo Ancelotti dumps Everton for Real Madrid return.
Ancelotti has signed a three-year deal at Real and said the move represented “an unexpected opportunity”.
He added: “I have complete respect for everyone associated with Everton and hope they can achieve the exciting opportunities they have in front of them.
“While I have enjoyed being at Everton I have been presented with an unexpected opportunity which I believe is the right move for me and my family at this time.”
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Could Rafa Benitez do the job at Everton? I know for a fact he would take it.
“Real Madrid were waiting for Mauricio Pochettino. Paris St-Germain triggered a renewal of his contract. So the only way for Pochettino to go to Real or Spurs is to publicly say ‘I’m leaving’. So that meant Real had to see what is out there.
“It’s a team that has players Ancelotti had in his time there. Florentino Perez decided to sack him having won the Champions League, he felt the team wasn’t working hard enough.
“Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos were asked about him and they said ‘keep him’. He got sacked, the relationship with Perez went sour earlier on and wasn’t great.
“But we reach a moment where Real Madrid need someone that can bring a happy face to the camp and exploit a mixture of youth and veteran figures.”
