Real Madrid ‘want Roberto de Zerbi to be their new manager’ if Carlo Ancelotti leaves at the end of the season, with the Spanish giants ‘big admirers’ of the Brighton boss’ work

• De Zerbi helped Brighton qualify for European football for the first time last term
• Ancelotti has been heavily linked with a move away from Madrid in the summer
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Real Madrid are keen to appoint Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi as their next manager when Carlo Ancelotti leaves the club, according to a report.

Ancelotti seems set to leave Madrid for a second time at the end of the current season, with the news revealed early on enough in the year for the Spanish side to recruit a replacement.

Ancelotti is currently leading the charge for Madrid to win back their league and European titles, and they are top of LaLiga after missing out to Barcelona last season and having surrendered the Champions League to Manchester City. 

A number of names have been mentioned as potential targets, including Bayer Leverkusen manager and former Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso.

But, according to Cadena, Los Blancos will do all they can to persuade De Zerbi to take over the reigns at the Bernabeu and continue his fine work form Brighton at the European giants.

Real Madrid are keen to appoint Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi as their next manager, according to a report

Current Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is set to leave the club at the end of the season to take over at Brazil

Madrid are currently top of LaLiga and bidding to win the title back after missing out to Barcelona last season

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De Zerbi took over at Brighton last season from Graham Potter, going into the club from Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine.

He immediately won the fans over with his attractive and positive style of football, leading the Seagulls to a sixth-place finish in the league last season and their first ever qualification for European football.

This season Brighton are currently third in the Premier League and are also playing in the Europa League despite a flurry of changes in player personnel again over the summer.

De Zerbi, meanwhile, delivered European football to Brighton for the first time ever last season

The Italian has also led Brighton to third in the Premier League table as they continue to progress under his leadership

While the club has been used to selling their best talent when a good offer for their services arrives, they will be keen to do all they can to keep the Italian at the helm for as long as possible.

It is thought however that the 44-year-old has a release clause in his Brighton contract of around £11.2million which, although a sizeable price for a manager, would make it easier for the likes of Madrid, who are big admirers of his work, to poach him.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, is set to take over as Brazil’s new manager when he leaves the club, and has no intent of retiring despite his Madrid departure.

His side beat Las Palmas 2-0 on Wednesday evening – with Jude Bellingham on the bench – to move to the top of LaLiga after a disappointing campaign last term. 

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