As he gets ready to take on the Sevilla defender in LaLiga on Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti claimed that if it weren’t for Sergio Ramos, he wouldn’t be managing Real Madrid right now.
Ramos was an important contributor to Madrid’s success under the Italian coach’s first tenure, which spanned from 2013 to 2015. Ramos’ equalizer in the 2014 Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid ranks among the club’s most illustrious goals in history.
After leaving Paris Saint-Germain, the former Madrid and Spain captain returned to his old club Sevilla last month as a free agent.
“I’d love to see [Ramos] and say hello,” Ancelotti said in a news conference on Friday. “I have affection for all the players I’ve had, but above all I have special affection for him.
“If I’m here today it’s because of Sergio Ramos. If he hadn’t scored the goal in the [Champions League] final, I probably wouldn’t be here. For that, and for everything he did for this club, everybody has a lot of affection for him… He’ll play well for sure. Let’s hope he doesn’t score but if he does, he can [celebrate] however he wants!”
Ancelotti returned to coaching Madrid in 2021 and won the LaLiga and Champions League double in his first season back, but since missing out on both of those trophies the previous year, there has been concern over his future amid links to the Brazil position.
“As I’ve often said, I’m very happy at Real Madrid. I’ll stop there,” he said on Friday, when asked if he’d like to renew his contract. “You made it difficult for me with that question! Would I like to renew or not? I don’t talk about my future.”
Before the main two clubs’ El Clásico matchup the following week, Madrid will head to Sevilla atop LaLiga with 24 points, three points clear of Barcelona in third.