January 4 – Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed his commitment to Real Madrid after signing a contract extension, thwarting the Confederation of Brazilian Football’s plans to hire him as national team coach.
Last week, the capital club and the Italian agreed a two-year contract extension that should see Ancelotti (pictured) at Real until 2026.
“My contract was up on June 30. The club has decided to do it now because they’re happy with our work,” said Ancelotti.
“I don’t know if it will be my last spell as a coach. I don’t know what will happen once I finish here. I might still be here in 2026, depending on how successful I am. I’d like to be Madrid coach until 2026, and hopefully I can continue to be here in 2027 and 2028 because I want to stay here.”
The extension leaves the CBF red-faced after Ancelotti had long been linked to taking over from interim Brazil manager Fernando Diniz in 2024.
Ancelotti has severed those links with his contract extension but admitted that talks with the CBF took place.
“I want to be a coach. I like Madrid. I had contact with the former president of the CBF and I want to thank him for his interest. It was a source of pride, but it was always clear that it depended on my situation at Real Madrid. It’s turned out the way I wanted it to: to stay here,” explained Ancelotti.
Ancelotti’s commitment to Madrid, where he has won the Champions League twice, will prompt a new crisis at the CBF which is increasingly rudderless.
The organisation’s chairman Ednaldo Rodrigues was removed from his role by a court order and, while the court has ordered fresh elections, world federation FIFA is not pleased with what it considers third-party interference.
On the pitch, the Seleçao has also been struggling with Fernando Diniz overseeing the worst start in history to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
In a double role as manager of Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense and the national team, Diniz was supposed to be a stop-gap coach after the departure of Tite, but with Ancelotti staying in Spain, the CBF will have to weigh other options. Brazil has never had a foreign manager.
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