On May 21, 2022, a loud shockwave crossed borders and reached the offices of the Santiago Bernabéu. Paris Saint-Germain’s star striker communicated to Florentino Pérez his intent to renew with the Parisians in a brief WhatsApp message. Madrid’s strategy to reinforce the attack was clear, and the French forward paused, letting the opportunity slip into place. From May 21 to September 1, the summer window closed, a span of 103 days filled with strategic recalibration and stubborn negotiations.
Mbappe or nothing
For those 103 days, Florentino Pérez held firm on his stance, even as Manchester City’s new signing Haaland remained unavailable. When news emerged that Mbappé would renew with PSG, Carlo Ancelotti approached Real Madrid’s general manager, José Ángel Sánchez, expressing a desire to add another striker to partner Karim Benzema. The Italian even suggested Richarlison, whom he had coached at Everton, as a potential addition. Madrid considered the proposal, but Pérez remained resolute: Mbappé would don white. Meanwhile, the team faced an imbalance in attack, with Benzema at 34 still carrying the main goal-scoring burden. Mariano and Hazard could not deliver, forcing Ancelotti to improvise by deploying Rodrygo as a false nine and accepting the associated limitations.
Florentino did not waver and moved forward with his plan. Manuel Pellegrini, Madrid’s coach during the 2009-10 season, later reflected in an interview about clashes in leadership: Real Madrid demands a coach who aligns with the squad’s identity, and when visions diverge between president and coach, a change can become necessary. Pellegrini emphasized that when differences persist, the coaching role may end, a realization he reached about his own tenure in Madrid.
In his 2021 book Calm Leadership, Ancelotti revisited his first stint with Real Madrid and his relationship with the president. He described receiving freedom to adjust his playing style, yet always being reminded of the objective: the team’s game plan had to fit the president’s wishes. Florentino Pérez pursued some of football’s biggest superstars, and while the manager might not always choose every player, the task was to make the squad function with the resources at hand. There was also a note about Madrid’s unique organizational culture, a feeling that the club’s traditions sometimes prevent a single anchor from taking root.
In the weeks ahead, Ancelotti faced dwindling credibility in the club’s top ranks. Madrid’s momentum after a historic win at Liverpool slowed, and a trio of league matches against Atlético, Barcelona, and Betis yielded a solitary goal from Álvaro Rodríguez, still a youth player. After the Villamarín clash, Ancelotti pointed to a recurring issue: the side had conceded few set-piece goals in recent games, yet the attack needed to be sharper. The emphasis was on being more efficient and dangerous going forward while maintaining a solid defensive structure.
Frustration and anger
The league campaign brought disappointment to the club’s offices as the attack struggled to convert chances. A defeat to Barcelona at the Bernabéu sparked frustration, with questions about whether the squad was maximizing its potential. From the upper ranks came murmurs that Ancelotti was not fully leveraging the available resources on the bench, and observers noted renewed concerns as substitutes like Nacho, Ceballos, and Asensio warmed the bench again in Sevilla.
Before the Alaba and Mendy setbacks, there was a shift that saw Camavinga chosen for the squad over a prominent demand for Nacho from sides in Europe and the United States. Ceballos surged in form, but minutes remained a scarce commodity. Asensio’s form did not meet Ancelotti’s expectations, and with several players potentially leaving, decisions about the rotation and future plans grew more complex. The club still looked toward renewal for the first two players mentioned, aiming to secure long-term cooperation while evaluating the rest of the squad.
With Mbappé’s mercurial situation and veteran midfielders like Modrić, Kroos, Benzema, Nacho, Ceballos, and Asensio all facing uncertain futures, Ancelotti’s job security seemed tied to consistent results. The Champions League and domestic cups loomed, followed by a demanding league schedule. Goals remained essential, and as the Italian noted in his writings, it is impossible to complete a season without winning a major title. Madrid’s energy felt stretched, and patience from Florentino Pérez with the coach appeared to be thinning as the season approached its critical moments.