The CBF’s first proposal for Ancelotti came in 2023, but the coach only left Real Madrid to take over the Brazilian National Team this month
After about two years of attempts by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Carlo Ancelotti finally accepted the challenge of coaching the Brazilian National Team. In an interview with the newspaper Marca, the Italian told the behind-the-scenes story of the first negotiation, in 2023, and when he made the decision to leave Real Madrid. With Tite’s departure in 2023, Ednaldo Rodrigues, then president of the CBF, announced Fernando Diniz as interim coach until Ancelotti arrived – who, according to the president, would take over the Canarinho after the end of his contract with Real Madrid, in June 2024.
The Italian, however, chose to renew with the Spanish team, and the one who took over the National Team permanently was Dorival Júnior – who left in March of this year. “I have always told the truth. My priority has always been Real Madrid. When I first approached (the CBF), the club offered me a contract renewal and there was no hesitation. I always said I would stay at Real Madrid for as long as possible,” explained Ancelotti about his first negotiation with the Brazilian football governing body. His last season at the helm of Real Madrid, however, changed Ancelotti’s view on staying at the Spanish team. The coach with the most titles in the club’s history (15), the Italian ended the European calendar without winning any of the three main trophies: Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey.
The decision to leave was made before the end of the season: “The results were not what we expected. The team’s performance was not good either. It was time to do something. After the elimination by Arsenal (in the quarterfinals of the Champions League), we talked about it and decided. It was something that was coming. The team was not doing well, and that was when we all realized that it was better for Real Madrid to look for me and for me to look to Brazil.”
The tie mentioned by Ancelotti took place in April. On the 8th, at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal won 3-0. The return leg, played on the 16th at the Santiago Bernabéu, was again won by the English: 2-1.
