Real Madrid vice-president Eduardo Fernandez de Blas has dropped the clearest indication yet that Rafael Benitez will be confirmed as the club's new head coach in the coming days.

Benitez has already confirmed that he will leave Napoli.

AS reported that De Blas, speaking at a club event on Saturday evening, said: "I'll tell you one thing, Carlo Ancelotti is a real phenomenon. We give our thanks to him.

"Until three days ago, he was, for me, the best coach in the world, just as two years ago it was Jose Mourinho, and as from this week it will be Rafa Benitez."