LALIGA
Brazil legend Romario strongly against Real Madrid boss Ancelotti becoming national team coach
The former Barcelona attacker didn’t hold back with his views on whether he wanted the four-time Champions League winner managing his country.
Legendary Brazil striker Romario, who won the 1994 World Cup with his country in the United States, could not be less enthusiastic about Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti taking over as national team manager, as has been strongly rumoured for several months.
The former Barcelona star would instead prefer to see current interim coach Fernando Diniz remain in charge and believes the Seleção Canarinha deserve better than to left hanging by Ancelotti, who has refused to confirm or deny he would be interested in the post.
Romario: “Fuck Ancelotti!”
“Fuck Ancelotti! I want Diniz until the end,” the 57-year-old, now a senator for Rio de Janeiro, told Panorama Esportivo. The full interview has yet to be published but Brazilian newspaper O Globo have released a preview.
Romario is full of praise for Diniz, who he describes as the best coach in Brazil and who he believes needs to be given time to get results. The ex-forward’s backing comes after the five-time World Cup winners endured a disappointing October international break, being held by Venezuela at home before losing away to Uruguay in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification. After only four games played, Brazil already find themselves five points behind arch rivals Argentina, although they only need to finish in CONMEBOL’s top six to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
When could Ancelotti move to Brazil?
In July, Diniz, who doubles up as manager of Fluminense, was named as Brazil’s interim coach until mid-2024, when the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) hopes Ancelotti will take over. The Italian’s Real Madrid contract runs until the end of the 2023-24 season, which means the dates line up, but Romario is having none of it.
“I want to congratulate Ednaldo (Rodrigues), the president of the CBF (Brazil’s Soccer Federation), because he did well to choose Diniz. He is the best coach we have in Brazil. He still hasn’t had time to do with the national team what he does with his club, which is training and bringing the players together, which is his strength. He’s doing what he can. They drew and lost in their last two games, but nobody always wins.”
Romario backing Fluminense in Copa Libertadores final
In the same interview, Romario talked of his hope that Fluminense, one of the many clubs for which he played, beat Boca Juniors in Saturday’s Copa Libertadores final, which will be played on Saturday at Maracaná in Rio. After not referring to Boca or Argentines in general in the nicest of terms, Romario said he had been a Fluminense fan his life: “They are the best team and the one that really deserves the title,” he claimed.
Players “have to go” to Saudi Arabia or Qatar
Finally, the 70-time capped former attacker also gave his view on high-profile players who had moved to Saudi Arabia or Qatar for extortionate sums of money. “If it were me, I would have gone too. They have to go. Soccer players are in their prime for only 10 to 15 years, they have to make the most of that time financially, especially those who have no hope of being the best player in the world,” he said.