Real Madrid stars Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois ‘blocked Antonio Conte appointment’

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Real Madrid pair Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois blocked the potential appointment of Antonio Conte, according to reports. The Italian previously managed the two players at Chelsea. But he’s been overlooked for the job at the Bernabeu, with Carlo Ancelotti taking over instead.

Real Madrid recently saw Zinedine Zidane resign as manager, with the Frenchman departing having grown tired of a lack of backing from club president Florentino Perez.

And, since then, they’ve appointed Ancelotti as manager.

The 61-year-old previously spent two years in charge of Los Blancos, helping them win the Champions League in 2014.

And, now, he’s primed to return – with Everton looking for a replacement.

Prior to Real Madrid’s announcement Ancelotti would be taking over, they were being heavily linked with Conte.

The Italian is currently looking for a new club after choosing to leave Inter Milan behind, despite winning the Scudetto.

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And Eduardo Inda, speaking on El Chiringuito TV, has claimed Courtois and Hazard – who previously played under Conte at Chelsea – stopped their former boss getting the job.

“There was a candidate, which was Conte. The first time he nearly came was two years ago,” he said.

“Sergio Ramos vetoed him because he knew how the coach treats them [his players].

“Conte has now been banned by two people, two players who were with him recently: Hazard and Courtois.”

Conte won the Premier League title with Hazard and Courtois, making Chelsea one of the best sides in the Premier League.

But he was sacked in the summer of 2018 after falling out with his players and the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.

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Now, Real Madrid will be looking forward to seeing what Ancelotti will do during his second stint as manager.

And, speaking after his appointment, the 61-year-old admitted that he felt a move back to Spain was the right decision for himself and his family.

“I would like to thank the Board of Directors, the players, and the Evertonians for the tremendous support they have all given me during my time at the Club.

“I have complete respect for everyone associated with Everton and hope they can achieve the exciting opportunities they have in front of them.

“While I have enjoyed being at Everton I have been presented with an unexpected opportunity which I believe is the right move for me and my family at this time.”

Zidane recently let rip at Real Madrid over his departure, insisting he’s still determined to stay in management.

“I am not abandoning ship and I am not tired of coaching,” he wrote.

“I am going because I feel that the club no longer gives me the trust I need and doesn’t offer me the support needed to build something in the mid and long term.

“Over the last few months, I would have liked my relationship with the club and the president to have been a bit different to that of other managers.

“Last time I left because I thought the team needed a new direction; this time is different.

“I know football and I know the demands of a club like Real Madrid, I know that when you don’t win you have to go.

“But something important has been forgotten here: everything I have built day to day, what I have contributed building the relationship with the players [and] the 150 people who work around the team.

“I am a born winner and I was here to conquer trophies but beyond that there are human beings, feelings, life, and I have the impression these things have not been appreciated, that it hasn’t been understood that a great club is also sustained by those relationships.

“I fact, I have even been criticised for that.

“I want everything we did together to be respected.

“I am not asking for privileges, of course not, but a bit of memory.”

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