For weeks, it had been an open secret that Carlo Ancelotti (65) would be hired as Brazil’s national team coach. But now, according to media reports, the Real Madrid coach has surprisingly turned down the Brazilian Football Confederation.
According to several media outlets, including the Spanish newspaper Marca, Carlo Ancelotti was supposed to travel to London on Monday to sign a contract with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). However, the 65-year-old ultimately felt compelled to turn down the offer – once again.
This news comes as a surprise, as Ancelotti had informed Real Madrid’s players just days earlier that he would be leaving the club in the summer, according to The Athletic. While this could still happen, the Selecao no longer seems to be a possibility as a coaching position.
But why the unexpected turnaround? Two reasons are said to have been decisive: the timing of his departure from Real Madrid and money – in more ways than one.
Saudi Arabian club lures Ancelotti
Contrary to the original agreement, the Italian told the Brazilian Football Confederation at the beginning of the week that he would not be available until August. The CBF, on the other hand, had assumed that it would be able to plan with Ancelotti from June onwards and contest the two World Cup qualifiers in Ecuador (June 4) and against Paraguay (June 9). These two dates would have clashed with the Club World Cup, in which Real Madrid will of course be participating (June 14 to July 13).
In addition, there is said to have been disagreement between Real’s bosses and Ancelotti over how to present the separation. The coach himself, whose contract in the Spanish capital runs until 2026, is said to have insisted on a severance payment of four million euros. From the perspective of Madrid president Florentino Perez, however, this would be a departure initiated by the player himself, which would not entail any financial compensation.
Ancelotti’s next chapter therefore remains up in the air, but instead of Brazil, it could be written in Saudi Arabia. The Italian is said to have received an offer of around €50 million net per season from the desert state – although it is not yet clear which club is involved.
