It seems Brazil is in a hurry to bring in the Al Hilal coach.
Brazil's 'UOL Esporte' reported on the 9th (Korean time) that the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) will pay a penalty fee amounting to 2.5 million euros (approximately 4.1 billion won) under the contract termination clause to hire Jorge Jesus (71) as the new head coach.
Brazil has been seeking a successor since firing coach Donival Júnior on the 28th of last month. Coach Júnior had to take responsibility after suffering a 1-4 defeat against rival Argentina, which was missing Lionel Messi (38, Inter Miami), in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Currently, Brazil is struggling in the South American qualifiers. They are in fourth place among 10 teams. The top six teams automatically qualify for the finals, but Brazil risks being eliminated.
While first-place Argentina (31 points) has comfortably secured its place in the finals, Brazil must survive against second-place Ecuador (23 points), third-place Uruguay (21 points), fifth-place Paraguay (21 points), and sixth-place Colombia (20 points).
The CBF hopes to bring in a new coach ahead of the World Cup South American qualifying matches against Ecuador (away) on June 5 and Paraguay (home) on June 8.
The CBF is considering Jorge Jesus along with Carlo Ancelotti (66), the Real Madrid coach, as candidates. Coincidentally, both coaches are leading teams that will compete in the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. from June 15 to July 14.
It seems the CBF has chosen coach Jesus over the relatively accessible coach Ancelotti after much deliberation. They are even prepared to pay the termination penalty fee. While Ancelotti holds more prestige, the current pressing reality makes the hiring of coach Jesus more feasible.
Coach Jesus had signed a one-year extension with Al Hilal last season, but he is reportedly showing more interest in the Brazilian coaching position recently. Moreover, his position at the club is not stable.
Rumors of his dismissal arose after Al Hilal lost 1-3 to Al Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo (40) plays, on the 5th. They fell five points behind league leader Al Ittihad (62 points) and allowed third-place Al Nassr (54 points) to close in.
If Al Hilal also loses in the league's 27th-round match against Al Ettifaq on the 12th, the dismissal of coach Jesus could become a reality. In that case, the CBF may not need to pay the penalty fee.
Meanwhile, this news is good for Gwangju FC, which is set to face Al Hilal. Gwangju will compete against Al Hilal in a single-elimination match in the quarterfinals of the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) on the 26th at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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