Someone in Brazil believes they have a fire going
Someone, somewhere in Brazil, believes they have a fire going. Because when it comes to the future of the national team job in football’s greatest national superpower ever, the smoke can be seen from the Iberian Peninsula.
More than three months after the Seleção crashed out of the World Cup against Croatia on penalties, the Brazilian Confederation of Football is yet to name their successor to Tite, who decided to scarper before he was escorted out. There has been plenty of talk about a number of major names, with the fact seemingly accepted that President of the CBF Ednaldo Rodrigues has taken it upon himself to be the first ever to appoint a foreign manager to the role.
While a wide range of profiles were mentioned, José Mourinho, Luis Enrique Martínez and Pep Guardiola included, the one name that continues to be on everyone in Brazil’s lips, is Carlo Ancelotti.
“Ancelotti is not only the favourite of the players, but also of the fans. Everywhere I go in Brazil, in every stadium, he’s the first name the fans ask me about,” Rodrigues told UOF.
“We will have a meeting with both the coach chosen by the CBF and the president of the club with which he has a contract,” confirming that their chief target is already in employment, thus ruling out Luis Enrique at any rate.
If the smoke could be seen from far off the extensive and luxurious coastline of Brazil, the returning stars from Europe only brought with them driftwood to stoke that fire.
“I discussed him with Casemiro, Vinícius [Júnior] and [Éder] Militão. I was told that he is exceptional, everyone likes him and he is very successful. We will see in the near future if he is here or not. There is a great possibility that he will come, so we are going to look for that result so that he comes as soon as possible,” giggled Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, adding a little gasoline to the kindling.
“We tell him: ‘Sir, we will wait for you (at Brazil)’. He jokes that we are going to make the call together. We talk more jokingly, but every joke has a bit of truth,” remarked Rodrygo Goes mischieviously, showing a remarkable openness on a matter that involves his nation and his employer.
“The situation there is difficult, he would have to leave Real Madrid to come here. So I can’t say what’s going to happen, but of course it would be an honour to have him here.”
For his part, Ancelotti has consistently resorted to fifth ammendment right, and that he has a contract until 2024 with Real Madrid. Curiously, the only Brazil player to ease away from the idea was a former Real Madrid player, Casemiro.
“He is a coach I know very well, he is a friend and it was a pleasure to work with him, but Ancelotti has a club and we have to respect the club he is at; and also respect Ancelotti.”
Back in Spain, there is relatively little concern about Brazil stealing away the coach that is responsible for their status as reigning European and Spanish champions. Rather the question in the Spanish capital is whether Ancelotti will be picking up a severance package at the end of the season. Just or not, it is no surprise that he is under serious pressure with Los Blancos twelve points off hte pace in La Liga.
It may be a result of an overly-confident director, or perhaps the Brazilian squad are being deliberately flirtatious with football’s coolest silver fox, but it seems that somewhere in the CBF, someone is stoking this blaze and briefing that Brazil are at the very least after Ancelotti. They are confident enough in their chances to make it a public secret too. Whether they end up with him is another matter, and there are a number of moving parts in the equation, but there is no smoke without fire.