Ancelotti to leave Real Madrid with Brazil national team job the likely next step | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti’s time at the helm of Real Madrid appears to be drawing to a close, with a report from The Athletic confirming that the Italian is now expected to leave the club at the end of the season.

The most likely next chapter in his storied managerial career? Leading the Brazil national team.

The shockwaves from Madrid’s Champions League elimination at the hands of Arsenal continue to echo, and while Ancelotti has long maintained that he would only leave if the club asked him to, it is becoming increasingly clear that this parting of ways may be mutual.

Despite the turbulence, Real Madrid have not officially made a decision yet, preferring to wait until after the Copa del Rey final to formally address the coach’s future.

Brazil gaining traction

Behind the scenes, however, Brazilian officials are moving quickly. According to the report, a representative from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) was in attendance during Madrid’s defeat to Arsenal, aiming to meet with Ancelotti in the following days to advance talks.

Interestingly, Ancelotti’s departure from coaching at Madrid does not necessarily mean his ties to the club would be severed.

Carlo Ancelotti is likely to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

The club is open to offering him a non-coaching role, potentially in an advisory or ambassadorial capacity.

However, all signs currently suggest that the veteran tactician prefers a fresh challenge, and leading Brazil — one of the most prestigious roles in international football — would certainly qualify.

Xabi Alonso comes into the picture

In anticipation of Ancelotti’s possible exit, Real Madrid have already been making quiet preparations. The club has identified Xabi Alonso as the natural successor.

The former Spain and Real Madrid midfielder is viewed as the ideal candidate to usher in a new era at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Alonso’s connection to Real Madrid, both as a former player and a respected football thinker, puts him in pole position should Ancelotti vacate the bench.

His rise in the managerial ranks has been swift, and there is growing belief within Madrid’s hierarchy that he could offer the same sense of calm control from the dugout that he once did on the pitch.