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Major changes are on track at Real Madrid this summer as the club seek to recover from a poor end to the 2025/26 season.
Carlo Ancelotti's side were ruthlessly knocked out in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals by Arsenal and beaten 3-2 by Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on April 26.
That means the only trophy left within reach is a La Liga title defence but Ancelotti has ground to make up on leaders Barcelona in the run-in.
The Arsenal humbling has been viewed as a trigger point for Ancelotti's future with the Italian coach expected to leave at the end of the campaign as Xabi Alonso waits in the wings as his replacement.
Ancelotti and Alonso's trading of places will see both manager's end their current contracts a year early with Alonso's deal at Bayer Leverkusen including a clause that he can leave for one of his former clubs.
A switch back to Madrid will be a huge challenge for Alonso, as he looks to rise to the threat of Barcelona next season, with Ancelotti expected to make a bold career move at the end of May.
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When is Carlo Ancelotti laving Real Madrid?
Both Ancelotti and Alonso are under contract until June 2026 but the pair are widely expected to move on at least 12 months' early.
Ancelotti's exit date could be nudged forward into May 2025, as talks over a move to take charge of the Brazil national team step up, as part of their long-term plan to bring in the Italian coach.
Representatives from the Brazilian FA will remain in Madrid to finalise the details of Ancelotti's move with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano indicating they are 'very confident' of securing him - but the clock is ticking.
Both Brazil and Real Madrid want the situation to be resolved quickly and Ancelotti could step aside immediately after Real Madrid's final league game of the season at home to Real Sociedad on May 25.
However, Brazil want him to start before the FIFA Club World Cup gets underway from June 14, and Real Madrid will install a caretaker boss if Alonso is not in position before the flight to the USA.
Brazil have two 2026 World Cup qualifiers on the horizon - away in Ecuador on June 6 and at home to Paraguay on June 10 - with the plan for Ancelotti to take charge of both games.
Ramon Menezes is on standby for his second interim spell - and he could pick the squad for those games - with Ancelotti unlikely to leave before the final ball is kicked this season.
Ancelotti wants to give the title race one final push - with a trip to Barcelona on May 11 in the diary - as they look to recover a four-point gap behind their El Clasico rivals.
A win in Catalonia, and a slip elsewhere from La Blaurgana, will open the door for Real Madrid as Ancelotti's final act in the Spanish capital.
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