Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly a fan of Declan Rice and is keen on adding the 23-year-old English international to the Real Madrid first-team setup.
In an interview with German outlet Wett Freunde, reputed Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has suggested that Carlo Ancelotti is an admirer of Declan Rice’s talents. The Real Madrid boss wishes to add the West Ham United midfielder to his squad, but Di Marzio is unsure if Los Blancos will make a move for him.
Declan Rice spent most of his formative years at Chelsea, before moving to West Ham United as a young teenager. The English international broke into the first-team setup at the London Stadium in 2017 and has since grown exponentially, becoming a pivotal figure for club and country.
To date, the 23-year-old has made 176 appearances for West Ham, with 31 outings coming in the ongoing campaign. The player’s progress in the last few years has not gone unnoticed, with some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League setting their sights on him. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti also appears to be a fan of Rice.
Gianluca Di Marzio has made this claim in his interview with Wett Freunde, suggesting, “I know Carlo Ancelotti is a fan of Declan Rice. So he could be a good fit for Real. But I don’t know if Real will make an offer for him. If Rice is available, Ancelotti is sure to be there. But I have no idea what strategy the Royals are pursuing, which players are staying or going.”
Real Madrid could enter the market for a holding midfielder in the summer transfer window, with Franck Kessie one of their key targets. But with Paris Saint-Germain reportedly leading the race to sign the AC Milan talisman, Real Madrid will likely have to set their sights elsewhere.
With Di Marzio suggesting that Real Madrid might not launch an offensive for Rice, a move to Spain could be an unlikely prospect. Instead, the 23-year-old English international could be primed for a cross-London switch, as he is reportedly holding out for a move to Chelsea.
Rice is also a target for other Premier League bigwigs like Manchester City and Manchester United, so a transfer battle could ensue to secure his services. But West Ham will hope to clinch a top-four finish this season to keep hold of the youngster beyond the summer transfer window.