Julius OkorieFive-time World Cup Champions, Brazil, are re-visiting the chase of Real Madrid Coach, Carlo Ancelotti, as their first ever foreign manager.
If Brazil have their way, the engagement could be as soon as possible as the country intensifies the quest for a 2026 World Cup slot.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe development comes in the wake of the Selecao’s embarrassing 4-1 defeat by bitter rivals, Argentina in the World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night.
The result left Brazil down in fourth place, with the first six teams from CONMEBOL qualifying automatically for the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Brazil Football Federation (CBF), initially pursued the 65-year-old in 2023 and were prepared to make him the first foreign head coach in the nation’s history as his second spell at the Bernabeu looked to be drawing to a close.
According to The Athletic, the federation has again been in touch with the Italian as pressure mounts on incumbent Dorival Junior. The report also says Madrid claimed to be unaware of contact between their manager and the CBF.
Earlier, Brazil legend, Ronaldo Nazario, claimed that the Selecao’s pursuit of Carlo Ancelotti in 2023 was ‘not a fantasy’ after he turned down their approach.
Ancelotti was in the final year of his contract at the Bernabeu and Brazil were confident of luring him to side where several of his Los Blancos stars play their national football.
CBF President, Ednaldo Rodrigues, who was re-elected this week unopposed, had told the nation Ancelotti would be taking the job when his Madrid contract expired in 2024, just in time for the Copa America, in the USA in June.
That, of course, did not transpire and after appointing Fernando Diniz to look after the team temporarily alongside his role as head coach of Fluminense, Junior was chosen to lead the outfit. Ronaldo revealed that Madrid came close to dismissing Ancelotti, which would have paved the way for his arrival in Brazil.
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‘It was not a fantasy because I helped in the process by talking to Carlo, but he was not released,’ he told Charla Podcast. ‘Real Madrid did not release him.
Speculation over Ancelotti’s future has continued to swirl despite Madrid’s excellent performances and impressive trophy haul in his second spell with the side. The looming spectre of former Madrid star and current Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso looms large.
Many expected him to make the move to Spain last summer after guiding Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title as well as the German Cup and the final of the Europa League.
Earlier this year, the 65-year-old addressed the chatter and was characteristically philosophical in his assessment of his situation.
‘I want to be very clear: I will never decide the date of my departure from this club in my life,’ he said. ‘I know perfectly well that it will come one day, but I will not decide that day.
Following their thumping this week, Argentina moved eight points clear at the top of the South American qualifying group, while Brazil still have work to do to book their spot at the 2026 World Cup.
In addition to the six automatic qualifiers, the side finishing seventh will contest a play-off. Brazil have a six-point cushion over seventh-placed Venezuela with four qualifying matches left to play.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
