Is Carlo Ancelotti's (66) next goal to win the World Cup?

The Athletic reported on the 20th (Korean time) that "Carlo Ancelotti, coach of Real Madrid, is expected to step down. His next destination is most likely the Brazilian national team."

The possibility is increasing that Carlo Ancelotti, head coach of Real Madrid, will leave the team at the end of this season. The Brazilian national football team is being mentioned as a likely next destination, and Real Madrid has already begun movements to appoint a new coach.

Major foreign media outlets such as the UK’s Daily Mail and Spain’s AS have recently reported that "the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) strongly desires Ancelotti as the next national team coach."

Brazil, following a 1-4 loss to Argentina in a recent friendly, dismissed coach Dorival Junior and has been actively pursuing Ancelotti, even referring to him as "the president's dream."

In Spain, there is speculation that Coach Ancelotti could leave the team after the Copa del Rey final, which will be held on the 27th. Brazil hopes to appoint a new coach before the next international match window in June and has reportedly contacted Ancelotti's camp multiple times through unofficial routes.

Reports indicate that a figure named Diego Fernandez has met directly with Coach Ancelotti in recent weeks to persuade him. While official links with the Brazilian Football Confederation have not been confirmed, it is believed that he was offered his first national team coaching position after having only managed club teams.

This is not Brazil's first pursuit. After the 2022 Qatar World Cup, they considered Ancelotti as their top choice for the next head coach, but at that time he declined, stating that "his contract with Real Madrid takes precedence."

This time, the situation is different. Real Madrid has ceded the top position in La Liga to Barcelona, and in the UEFA Champions League, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Arsenal. The performance this season is said to be below expectations, contrasting with their achievement of European dominance last season.

Additionally, Ancelotti's contract will expire at the end of this season. The club is also preparing for the conclusion of Ancelotti's tenure. They have already identified Xabi Alonso, the current manager of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, as a strong candidate for the position, and former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp's name has also been mentioned.

Among them, Alonso, a legendary midfielder of Real Madrid, has been in charge of Bayer 04 Leverkusen since October 2022, leading the club to their first undefeated Bundesliga title in history and a DFB-Pokal victory. He reached the final of the UEFA Europa League but unfortunately lost 0-3 to Atalanta, missing out on the treble. However, his capabilities as a coach have certainly been proven.

In this context, The Athletic noted that "Ancelotti is expected to step down from the head coach position at Real Madrid, with the Brazilian national team being the most likely next destination for him. This publication reported in March that the CBF has identified Ancelotti as their top choice to lead the national team until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Jorge Jesus of Al Hilal is also among the candidates."

Furthermore, The Athletic explained that "Ancelotti has several options, including non-coaching roles within the Real Madrid organization, but it is said that he has expressed a desire to coach the Brazilian national team. Brazil has been looking for a new coach since dismissing Dorival Junior in March."

However, Ancelotti stated, "officially I will not resign unless Real Madrid makes a decision first," but Brazil is reportedly already in high-level negotiations with him. According to our coverage, the CBF has dispatched a representative to meet with Coach Ancelotti in Spain, where the Champions League quarterfinal match between Real Madrid and Arsenal will be held this week.

The media added that "the CBF denied this fact, explaining that 'this matter is being handled only by Rodrigo Caetano, the general director of the men's national team, and President Ednaldo Rodrigues, both of whom are currently in Rio de Janeiro.'"

Nevertheless, Brazil aims to appoint a new coach before the next international match window. The Brazilian national team is scheduled to continue the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Coach Ancelotti began his managerial career as the head coach of the Italy national team and has since led top European clubs including Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, SSC Napoli, and Real Madrid, lifting numerous trophies. Although he lacks experience as a national team coach, if he leads Brazil to the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America during the twilight of his career, another legendary story is expected to unfold.

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