The question is whether the Blancos are willing to wait until after the 2026 World Cup
Lionel Scaloni, photo – Getty Images
An unexpected coaching candidate has appeared on Real Madrid's radar: Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni .
According to media reports, the 46-year-old Argentine is seen by the Blancos as a possible successor to Carlo Ancelotti, who is likely to leave the club at the end of the current season.
The problem is that Scaloni does not intend to leave his post until after the 2026 World Cup. The question is whether the Madrid club is prepared to wait if the current head coach leaves, or whether they will bet on another alternative in the short term.
Ancelotti's contract with Real expires this summer. According to available information, the Italian is the main candidate for the position of the new coach of the Brazilian national team after the dismissal of Dorival Junior, in which Scaloni “had a hand”.
It was also reported that Real Madrid are considering Jurgen Klopp as a replacement for Ancelotti, although Bayer coach Xabi Alonso is considered the priority option.
Scaloni has been in charge of the Argentina national team since August 2018. Under his leadership, the Albiceleste became the 2022 World Cup champions and also won the Copa America twice (2021, 2024). Having defeated Brazil on March 26 (4:1), Argentina secured an early ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
Real Madrid are second in La Liga (three points behind Barcelona) and have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they will play Arsenal.
Today Ancelotti's team will host Real Sociedad in the return semi-final of the Spanish Cup (the Blancos won the first match 1-0). The main goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was left out of the squad for this match, so today Ukrainian Andriy Lunin will get another chance to prove himself. The cup match starts at 22:30 Kyiv time.