REAL MADRID
Brazil believe hiring Carlo Ancelotti is “a done deal”: when could the Real Madrid coach take over as manager?
Rumours of the Italian taking over as Brazil boss have been rife even though he his deal with Los Blancos runs until 2024.
Rumours that Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will take over as Brazil manager have intensified following the South Americans’ 4-1 friendly victory over Guinea in Barcelona in Spain, a match which was played as part of the ‘One Skin’ anti-racism campaign launched by the Brazilian Soccer Federation (CBF).
Reports: Ancelotti to Brazil a “done deal”...but when?
According to Brazilian media outlet Globo, “the CBF believes hiring Carlo Ancelotti is a done deal” and that the Italian would take charge of the national team “in January or June 2024″.
Globo journalist Luís Roberto claims that CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues intends to announce the two parties have an agreement in place “at the end of this month”.
Speculation surrounding the possible appointment of Ancelotti began shortly after the departure of Tite, whose time at Brazil boss came to an end after the 2022 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Croatia in Qatar. Rodrigues later publicly acknowledged that the current Real Madrid coach was his number one target as Tite’s replacement.
Ancelotti expects to stay at Real Madrid next season
Ancelotti himself has stated that he plans to see out the remainder of his contract with the Spanish giants, which comes to an end in June 2024. However, that has done little to dissuade Rodrigues, who, according to Globo, is prepared to wait as long as it takes to get his man.
Brazilians coy on Ancelotti after Guinea friendly win
Interim boss Ramon Menezes, meanwhile, claimed that he was unaware of any type of deal being done with Ancelotti in his post-match press conference after the Guinea friendly, played at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium.
“I’ve already said that he is a great coach. What else am I going to say about Ancelotti? He’s had a wonderful career,” Menezes said.
Several players, including Lucas Paquetá and Marquinhos, were also asked in the mixed zone about the possible appointment of the former Milan, Chelsea and PSG coach, who they praised but were keen not to get too far ahead of themselves.