Carlo Ancelotti turned away a €35m deal at Everton to make the return to Real Madrid last summer.
That’s according to AS journalist Joaquin Maroto, who says this decision to reduce his wages is something the Spanish club now appreciate.
He explains that there is ‘full confidence’ in Ancelotti at the club despite the recent defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico.
They are not contemplating replacing the Italian, who has a contract at the Bernabeu until June 2023, which also contains an option for him to extend it for one year.
They don’t plan to take stock of his situation at the end of the season, but there is still confidence in him as they have an ‘optimistic lead’ in La Liga and are into the Champions League quarter-finals.
Ancelotti also plans to honour his contract bar any disasters in the final stage of the season, having made sacrifices to return to Spain last year.
The newspaper says Madrid appreciate that Ancelotti ‘gave up’ a three-year contract with Everton worth €35m to sign with Madrid for ‘half the money’ he was being paid in England and for one year less to boot, albeit with the option included.
The only thing Ancelotti asked for was the removal of a clause that states Madrid coaches will only be paid for the end of the season and not the full term of their contract if they are sacked.
He was willing to lower his salary and the length of his contract but wanted that in return, something which was granted by the club.
His efforts, coupled with his work this season and the way he has mostly done what they’ve asked of him, all are points in his favour.
Of course, Ancelotti is now long gone from Goodison Park, with Frank Lampard in charge after Rafa Benitez’s disastrous few months at the helm.
It just goes to show, though, that not only were Everton paying big to have Ancelotti in the first place, but even that wasn’t enough to convince him to remain where he was.
In fact, he was willing to halve his wages and be less secure in terms of contract length to get out, something which we’re sure will raise even more questions about the goings on behind the scenes on Merseyside.
