Everton loan attempt led to Carlo Ancelotti leaving for Real Madrid after chance phone call

Everton fans could be forgiven for feeling a tinge of sadness watching the events at Wembley Stadium in the Champions League final.

Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund over the weekend to win the European Cup for the 15th time in the club's history. It was also the second time that Carlo Ancelotti has won the prestigious competition since leaving the Blues to return to the Spanish capital.

Ancelotti enjoyed nearly two years as Everton manager from 2019-21, during which time he quickly became a favourite with the Goodison Park faithful. He guided the Blues to a 10th-place finish in his final season with the club, which included a famous win over Liverpool at Anfield in the Merseyside derby in February 2021.

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But just a few months later, though, Ancelotti swapped Goodison Park for the Santiago Bernabeu, and now a report from The Guardian provided insight into how a phone call to the Real hiercahy by the Italian led to his eventual Goodison exit and move to the Spanish capital.

"One day José Ángel Sánchez, the director general, received a call from Ancelotti about the possibility of Everton taking Madrid players on loan," the report claims.

"At one point the Italian asked him how the search was going. Not good, he was told. To which Ancelotti joked, well, there is one obvious candidate, the best coach in the world. 'Have you forgotten about the décima?' he said."

Since leaving Everton, Ancelotti has guided Madrid to two Champions League titles, one Copa del Rey, one Club World Cup and two La Liga titles. As well as the Champions League this season, Ancelotti oversaw Madrid win La Liga and finish 10 points ahead of arch rivals Barcelona in second place.