Cliff Notes – Carlo Ancelotti’s move to Brazil hits impasse with Madrid
- Real Madrid is dissatisfied with the timing and financial terms surrounding Carlo Ancelotti’s potential departure, complicating his move to the Brazil national team.
- Ancelotti’s contract with Madrid runs until June 2026, and the club prefers he focus on the LaLiga season and the upcoming Club World Cup.
- The Brazilian federation is negotiating a resolution while considering alternative coaching options if a deal with Ancelotti cannot be finalised before key World Cup qualifiers in June.
Carlo Ancelotti’s move to Brazil hits impasse with Madrid
Real Madrid are unhappy with the timing and financial arrangements of Carlo Ancelotti’s exit from the club, leaving his reported move to take over as coach of the Brazil national team in jeopardy.
On Monday, there were reports that suggested there was optimism from the Brazilian federation (CBF) that a deal to hire Ancelotti as coach was progressing in time for him to oversee a pair of World Cup qualifiers in June.
But sources said Tuesday that Madrid wanted Ancelotti, whose contract runs until June 2026, to be able to focus on the remainder of the LaLiga season and to coach the team at this summer’s Club World Cup.
Madrid are also unwilling to pay the remainder of Ancelotti’s contract, leaving a move that seemed to be nearing certainty Monday at an impasse.
CBF representatives are in Madrid trying to negotiate a resolution while avoiding putting undue pressure on Ancelotti to honor a verbal agreement that was made, sources added.
Though Ancelotti is one of the most successful coaches in Madrid’s history — winning three Champions Leagues and two LaLiga titles during two spells at the Santiago Bernabéu — the current season has been a disappointment. Madrid lost to Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals and to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final Saturday. They are four points behind the Catalans in LaLiga with five games to play.
Brazil has been without a coach since March, when it fired Dorival Junior after a humiliating loss to CONMEBOL rivals Argentina in a qualifier.
The five-time World Cup champions, who are fourth in the qualifying table, are set to play Ecuador on June 4 and Paraguay on June 9. If Ancelotti moves on from Madrid in time for those Brazil games, they will need to find a new coach or appoint an interim to oversee Real’s participation in this summer’s Club World Cup.
If Brazil are unable to finalize a deal with Ancelotti, sources said the CBF would consider resuming talks with Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus to have someone in place for the next squad announcement on May 26.