Inside Real Madrid's struggles: Stars blasted as 'too individual', Rodrygo's rift with Jude Bellingham and how Kylian Mbappe's arrival unbalanced Carlo Ancelotti's star-studded side

Just under a year ago, Carlo Ancelotti was being tossed into the air at Wembley as Real Madrid players toasted clinching a record-extending 15th European Cup in the club's history.

The act followed the sight of Ancelotti dancing with his squad around the trophy, which he had secured for a record fifth time as manager.

Real Madrid's celebrations highlighted a club pulling in the same direction, with the connection between the veteran Italian coach and his squad central to the triumph.

Now, it is all change at Real Madrid, with Ancelotti on his way out of the club to take charge of the Brazil national team and the club's former midfielder Xabi Alonso poised to take the hot seat.

Alonso looks set to inherit a different environment to the one on display 12 months ago, amid reports of numerous clashes between players throughout the campaign. One of which has reportedly left Brazilian star Rodrygo deciding he does not want to play for the club again.

Real Madrid stars have been publicly critical of their team-mates during the season, having seen their Champions League and LaLiga title defences fall short in embarrassing fashion.

Carlo Ancelotti will leave Real Madrid to become Brazil boss after a nightmare campaign

Real Madrid are set to finish without silverware for the first time since the 2018-19 season

The Spanish giants appeared united when winning the Champions League last season, but players reportedly turned on their coach during a difficult campaign

Los Blancos were dumped out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals with a 5-1 demolition by Arsenal over two legs.

A trio of Real Madrid players were sent off in a fractious Copa del Rey exit to Barcelona earlier this month, while a 4-3 Clascio defeat on Sunday effectively saw their Catalan rivals clinch the LaLiga title and expose Real Madrid's frailties.

With Real Madrid set to miss out on silverware for the first time since the 2018-19 season, it is no surprise the Spanish giants have been more open to allowing Ancelotti to leave. His exit to Brazil, perhaps, allows the legendary Real Madrid boss to exit through the front door, rather than president Florentino Perez having to dismiss him.

Ancelotti's departure follows Brazil's long-term courtship of the 65-year-old, a saga which has rumbled on for over two years, with the deal finally announced on Monday.

The Italian had one year left on his contract at the Bernabeu but a deal has been brokered by businessman Diego Fernandes, on behalf of the Brazil Football Confederation.

'The CBF is proud to confirm that Carlo Ancelotti will become the next head coach of the Brazilian national football team,' the CBF announced.

'Mr Ancelotti, a legend of the game as the most successful manager in football history, will officially take charge following the conclusion of the 2024/-25 LaLiga season, ahead of Brazil's FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in June. His official start date May 26th, 2025.

'Carlo Ancelotti arrives as the first foreign manager in the history of the Selecao. This landmark moment sees the coming together of two icons - the only five-time FIFA World Cup champions, and a coach with an unmatched record across Europe's elite competitions.

Ancelotti was lauded after leading Real Madrid to a record 15th European Cup triumph last year

Ancelotti will leave Real Madrid for the second time after adding another 11 trophies to his CV

Former Real Madrid star Xabi Alonso is poised to be confirmed as Ancelotti's successor

'The CBF extends its sincere gratitude to Real Madrid and Mr Perez for the cordiality and sportsmanship shown in facilitating the coach's release during his contract term, allowing this new chapter to begin with mutual respect and cooperation between the teams.'

Ancelotti, who will become the first foreign head of coach of the Brazil national team, will be tasked with turning about their fortunes and leading their bid for a record sixth World Cup triumph next summer.

'Football is like life, something begins and ends, I've had a great time and the 26th is another challenge,' Ancelotti said on Tuesday. 'I've never had a problem with the club and I never will.

'One day it had to end and we've won a lot and it will be a memory for life. I've done my best, and the titles speak for themselves.'

Ancelotti declined to give advice to his expected successor Alonso at a press conference on Tuesday, but endorsed him as having 'all the tools' to be a Real Madrid coach.

Alonso will reportedly be in place for the FIFA Club World Cup next month, but the Spaniard will have to act quickly to fix problems which have dogged Real Madrid all season.

Ancelotti had openly highlighted problems with Real Madrid’s squad dating back to the club’s transfer business last summer.

While Real Madrid finally completed their long pursuit of Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer from PSG, the French superstar was one of just two major arrivals. The other being Brazilian wonderkid Endrick.

Real Madrid were expected to get stronger this season after signing superstar Kylian Mbappe

The failure to replace Toni Kroos following his retirement has been felt deeply this season

Injuries to key players including Dani Carvajal showed Real Madrid's lack of defensive cover

The loss of club legend Toni Kroos in the heart of the midfield has been felt deeply, with Real Madrid having lost the control which the German star provided in a decade of service.

Veteran Nacho’s departure on a free transfer robbed Real Madrid of key defensive cover. His absence has been heighted by captain and right back Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao suffering ACL injuries, while David Alaba has been working his way back to fitness after over a year on the sidelines.

The failure to strength in defence had been openly bemoaned by Ancelotti, with midfielder Fede Valverde regularly being force to cover at right back, further destabilising the heart of the team.

While the arrival of Mbappe was heralded, the loss of journeyman forward Joselu has been bemoaned at times in the campaign with the Spaniard having played a key role in their success last season.

When analysing Real Madrid's Champions League exit to Real Madrid last month, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois admitted the loss of Joselu had hurt the club. The Belgian appeared to indicate the arrival of Mbappe had unbalanced the team, with the squad playing too individually and lacking a willingness to track back.

'We are a team, but sometimes I feel like we play too individually,' Courtois said. 'When they double-team Vini or Kylian (Mbappe), sometimes it works out, but three, four times, it doesn't. If we want to win, we need to be better.

'In the end, they're a team that defends well, is well organised, presses well, and it's difficult to find space. We put in a lot of crosses, but this year we don't have Joselu, a natural striker up front.'

It is unquestionable that Mbappe has contributed individually this season, the most recent example being his hat-trick in the 4-3 loss against Barcelona. The treble saw Mbappe set a record for the most goals by a player in their debut season at Real Madrid, having netted 39 times in 52 matches in all competitions.

Thibaut Courtois attacked team-mates for being 'too individual' in the wake of their Champions League quarter-final exit to Arsenal last month

While Mbappe has had a strong individual campaign, critics have claimed he has unbalanced the team

Ancelotti was forced to adapt his set-up to fit Mbappe into the team alongside Vinicius Jr, left, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo

Bellingham has been unable to hit the same heights of stunning debut season at the club

Yet the question remains whether Mbappe's signing had destablised a well-oiled machine at the club. Questions over the lack of work ethic in the Real Madrid front line mirror criticisms faced at by PSG's formerly star-studded front line. Critics may well point to PSG's improvement since Mbappe's departure as further evidence, which will increase if the French side win the Champions League final this month.

Barcelona's ruthless 4-0 win over Real Madrid back in October had previously been used as a sign that Ancelotti was struggling to find a way to accommodate Vinicius Jr and Mbappe.

A recent poll in Spain’s Diario AS had 53 per cent of the 14,000 who voted blaming ‘bad planning’ for the potentially hugely underwhelming season. The players were blamed by 30 per cent and only 17 per cent pointed the finger at the coach.

Ancelotti had been forced to tinker with the set-up that led to Real Madrid's success last season given preference for playing in the same part of the pitch, with attempting to juggle a top heavy attack with a weakened midfield and back line.

The changing set-up initially saw Jude Bellingham dropping deeper and Rodrygo shifting wider to accommodate for Mbappe through the middle in attack. The tinkering may of contributed to drop offs elsewhere in the side, despite Mbappe delivering personally.

Bellingham finished as Real Madrid's top scorer in LaLiga last season with 19 goals in a stunning debut campaign, ending with 23 in all competitions. This season, the England star has just 13 goals in total, with eight coming in the league.

Vinicius Jr has also been unable to hit the heights recently, having missed out on winning a much desire Ballon d'Or, a snub that led to Real Madrid pulling out of the awards ceremony entirely.

The search for balance, however, has impacted Brazilian forward Rodrygo more than most. The Brazilian, 24, reportedly refused to play in Sunday's Clasico. According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the star is very angry' and confined himself to his own home after deciding not to play on Sunday.

It is claimed Rodrygo has felt displaced at the club amid a media explosion surrounding Bellingham and Mbappe, and has set his sights on a departure from the club in the summer.

Rodrygo is expected to leave the club after a reported rift over Bellingham and Mbappe's status

The Brazilian's role has gradually been reduced as Ancelotti reshaped his Real Madrid side

Endrick and Arda Guler's lack of game time this season has reportedly been an area of concern

Having been a key player in recent seasons, the Brazilian has been omitted during important matches with Ancelotti favouring a front three of Vinicius Jr, Bellingham and Mbappe.

The Spanish newspaper reports that Mbappe's arrival has also caused a rift with Vinicius Jr, who was the face of the club prior to teaming up with the Frenchman.

Tensions within the camp have been claimed in recent weeks, amid reports players have felt they were being sent out to matches against bigger clubs without effective plans, something highlighted in the wake of the defeat to Arsenal.

Concerns have reportedly also been raised over highly rated talents such as Endrick and Arda Guler have had limited game time throughout the course of the season.

The pair have been largely used off the bench with Guler having made just 12 starts in LaLiga and the Champions League, while Endrick has made just two in the competitions.

The challenge of devising an effective tactical set-up and managing the various egos in the Real Madrid dressing room looks set to fall to Alonso, with the Bayer Leverkusen boss expected to imminently take charge.

Alonso could well oversee a new look Real Madrid, with the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool set to end their search for a new right back.

Los Blancos have been linked with numerous potentially centre back, with the claims the club want to have deals in place ahead of their participation at the Club World Cup next month.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's arrival from Liverpool looks set to be part of a Real Madrid revamp

Alonso is expected to be backed with defensive additions as Real Madrid bid to bounce back

Real Madrid have already reportedly offered compensation to Liverpool to sign Alexander-Arnold ahead of the tournament.

Reports in Spain claim the club want to sign a left back and centre back in the coming weeks, with Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen and Tottenham's Cristian Romero mooted for the latter.

Los Blancos will officially end Ancelotti's second era at the club on May 25, with the Italian set to take charge of three final LaLiga matches before departing.

With Alonso expected to be in post for the Club World Cup and new signings expected to be made swiftly, Real Madrid's latest new era could already be well underway by the time they face Al-Hilal on June 18 in Miami.

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