Carlo Ancelotti said Real Madrid‘s Brazilian players have been teasing him about reports linking the Italian coach with taking charge of the Brazil national team.
On Friday the Brazilian Football Confederation denied an ESPN Brasil report that Ancelotti had given the OK to becoming Brazil’s new coach, taking over after Tite left following their quarterfinal exit at the Qatar World Cup.
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ESPN Brasil reported that Ancelotti had responded positively to Brazil’s interest, although no formal agreement had been reached.
“They joke about it,” Ancelotti said in a news conference on Tuesday when asked if Madrid’s Brazilian players — Vinicius Junior, Eder Militao and Rodrygo Goes — asked him about the story.
“They laugh about it, but we haven’t talked about it. We’re friends, they laugh. They’re jokes. But the reality is different. I have a contract [at Madrid] until 2024.”
Ancelotti, 63, returned to Madrid for his second spell in charge in the summer of 2021. He won a LaLiga and Champions League double in his first season. He has coached a string of elite clubs such as Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Madrid, but never managed at international level.
