Carlo Ancelotti may have only spent two seasons as manager of Real Madrid, but his impact at the club will live long in the memory. 

That's because he led Los Blancos to 'La Decima' in 2014, securing their 10th European crown. 

Given their recent dominance in the Champions League, it's hard to imagine that before Ancelotti arrived at the Bernabeu in 2013, Madrid hadn't reached the final for over a decade. 

Despite delivering the 10th European title that the Spanish club had been obsessing over for years, the Italian boss was dismissed just 12 months later in May 2015.

At the time, Madrid president Florentino Perez announced that the club's board had taken 'a very difficult decision' to relieve Ancelotti of his duties, citing the need for 'a new impulse in order to win trophies and be at our best'. 

The move to dismiss Ancelotti didn't come as too much of a shock, considering he didn't win a major trophy during his second season at the Bernabeu. 

However, according to the Italian coach himself, results weren't the only thing that led to his exit from Madrid.

A DAMAGED RELATIONSHIP

Now in charge of Napoli, Ancelotti has finally opened up about his relationship with Perez, almost four years after leaving. 

And interestingly, the Serie A boss suggests that a disagreement over Gareth Bale and his 'egotistic attitude' led to his relationship with the club's president deteriorating quickly.

"Altruism in a squad is important because if there’s something that drives me mad, it’s people who are egotistic in a match situation," Ancelotti said recently said, per the Independent. 

"Those moments when a player really should pass the ball and he doesn’t. I paid for this in my own career."

A ROW OVER BALE

Ancelotti went on to explain how a decision to substitute Bale, who he describes as 'egotistic', caused chaos to erupt at Real. 

"The reason the row with Florentino Perez exploded in Madrid was my substitution of Bale against Valencia," he continued.

"Bale should’ve passed it to Karim Benzema, who would’ve scored in front of an open goal, but instead he took the shot.

"I hauled Bale off and the chaos erupted. Perhaps excessive altruism is also a limitation in a striker, as he needs a bit of egotism, but not if it’s over the top."

The Welshman has taken a lot of flak this season, but it appears he had some big issues with Ancelotti too, which many fans wouldn't have been aware of.