Report – Real Madrid’s stance on making Santiago Solari the permanent manager if he wins Club World Cup | OneFootball

According to a report by journalists Hugo Cerezo and Alfredo Matilla (via Madrid Zone), Santiago Solari is in the conversation at Real Madrid, but not as a long-term managerial option.

The journalists mention that the club continue to hold Solari in high regard, particularly for the role he played during the 2018/19 season.

That campaign saw him begin a necessary generational transition, promoting Vinicius Jr. and moving away from veterans such as Gareth Bale, Isco, and Marcelo. While it was a short spell, it is one the club remembers fondly.

Solari could return

Solari has remained closely linked to the club since his departure as manager, and Real Madrid value his understanding of the institution.

The report claims that once Carlo Ancelotti depart this summer, Solari is viewed as a potential interim solution, especially for the FIFA Club World Cup.

However, it is already clear that even if he wins that tournament, Solari will not be considered for the permanent managerial role.

Santiago Solari would be an interim solution for Real Madrid. (Photo credit should read CESAR MANSO/AFP via Getty Images)

The reasoning is simple. Real Madrid view him as a safe and stabilising short-term figure. His coaching career has largely taken a backseat in recent years, and his current role as director of football has kept him connected with the club.

Despite being in pole position to take over on an interim basis, Solari is not seen as a star coach nor someone who would threaten the club’s longer-term vision, namely, the more than likely arrival of Xabi Alonso.

Solari won’t demand much

If Solari steps in temporarily, he is unlikely to demand control or push for long-term planning, making the eventual handover to Alonso far easier for the club to manage.

Meanwhile, the final months of Ancelotti’s reign remain somewhat uncertain. While it is almost certain that the Italian will leave at the end of the current campaign, it remains unclear whether he will be allowed to oversee the Club World Cup.

His move to coach the Brazil national team is on hold, leaving his immediate future unresolved.

In any case, Solari’s potential appointment would simply serve to keep the ship steady before Real Madrid launch a new era under a different, more permanent figure.