Ancelotti: I don’t speak to agents

FC Bayern München head coach Carlo Ancelotti has joined the growing chorus of people to voice their displeasure at the disproportionate power that agents hold in world football.

The former Real Madrid coach has had more than his fair share of dealing with agents during his 21 years in management, and says it is the players who are the “most important figures in football”.

Ancelotti was faced with a difficult situation when still with Real, when Gareth Bale’s agent approached president Florentino Perez to complain about the player being unhappy in his role as a wide player rather than in his preferred central role.

The Italian tactician now insists he has nothing do with agents but hopes his players trust him enough to talk to him directly, and not through any form of intermediary.

Ancelotti told Die Welt: “I do not speak to agents. They are not part of my profession in my opinion.

“I talk to the players directly. And I hope the players also approach me when there are problems rather than send their agent.

“I think agents hold too much power in football. Many clubs have given agents a lot of power.

“But fans come to the stadium to watch the players. The players are the most important figures in football, not agents or coaches.”

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