Carlo Ancelotti has challenged Alex Iwobi to talk to him about his favoured position after the Everton midfielder made a cryptic social media post.
Iwobi was called up by Nigeria earlier this week for their forthcoming internationals and, to mark the news, he took to Instagram and uploaded the message: 'Always an honour to get called up for my national team, hopefully I get to play in my preferred position.'
Ancelotti, who has used Iwobi as a wing-back and in midfield, saw the post but was left bemused by its nature as the 24-year-old has never approached him about having any discontent of the way he is being used.
Everton's manager is clearly not impressed – but is ready to listen.
'I didn't speak to him but I read the post he did,' said Ancelotti. 'I want to speak, of course. I want to know his preferred position! Usually I want to put a player on the pitch where they are comfortable to play, not where they are uncomfortable.
'If he has an idea of where he prefers to play I have to know – I want to know! I am delighted to know his preferred position and I'll put him in his preferred position for sure, no doubt. I have to tell him: 'Tell me! I am your manager, tell me where you want to play!'
'When I thought to put (Andrea) Pirlo as a holding midfielder I asked him 'Do you like to play there or not?' 'Yes,' he said to me. 'I'd love to play there!' So I put him there. If he (Iwobi) wants to play number 10 or number nine I'll put him there, no problem. I can adapt the system.'
Ancelotti continues to be without James Rodriguez and explained at great length that the Colombia international has been withdrawn from full training to recover from a calf issue that has prevented him playing since February 20. He will be ready after the international break.
'There are a lot of rumours around James,' said Ancelotti. 'James played really well against Man United, he scored a goal, he played really well against Liverpool but he was not 100 per cent fit and had little problems.
'For the fact we are going to have really important games to the end of the season we decided to give him a proper recovery and don't let him play at 70 per cent or 80 per cent . He has to recover and when he is 100 per cent he will play again.
'We have taken this decision together, we have no problem with the player, the player has agreed. Of course the player wants to play but he played against Liverpool but after 60 minutes I took him out and against United it was the same so it is better for him to solve his problem and to be ready for the end of the season.
'That can be after the [international] break so it is not a big problem.'
Meanwhile, the Italian insisted that the horrific ordeal goalkeeper Robin Olsen suffered will not drive him out of England. The Swede, who is on loan from AS Roma, and his family were held up by armed robbers at their home last week.
'It is difficult to say something,' said Ancelotti. Everyone is disappointed for this and the club is working to keep the safety of the players at the top.'
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