Carlo Ancelotti to Leave Real Madrid for Brazil National Team in June

In a seismic shift for both club and international football, Carlo Ancelotti, the legendary Italian manager, is reportedly set to depart Real Madrid at the end of the 2024-25 La Liga season to take charge of the Brazil national team starting in June 2025. The news, confirmed by multiple sources including The Athletic, ESPN, and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, marks the end of Ancelotti’s storied second stint with the Spanish giants and the beginning of a new chapter with the Seleção as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ancelotti, 65, has reached an agreement in principle with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to assume the role of head coach, with the deal set to commence in the first week of June. This timeline means Ancelotti will not lead Real Madrid at the FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled from June 14 to July 13 in the United States, leaving the club to appoint an interim or permanent successor for the tournament.

The move comes after months of speculation about Ancelotti’s future, intensified by Real Madrid’s disappointing 2024-25 campaign. Despite his remarkable record—three Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, and a Copa del Rey across two spells at the Santiago Bernabéu—the Italian has faced mounting pressure following a Champions League quarterfinal exit to Arsenal and a 3-2 extra-time loss to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on April 27. These setbacks, coupled with Real Madrid trailing Barcelona by four points in La Liga with five games remaining, appear to have paved the way for his departure.

Sources report that Ancelotti has already informed Real Madrid’s players of his decision, signaling a respectful exit after discussions with club president Florentino Pérez. The Athletic notes that the CBF, led by president Ednaldo Rodrigues, has long viewed Ancelotti as their “dream” candidate to replace Dorival Júnior, who was sacked in March following a 4-1 defeat to Argentina in World Cup qualifying.

Ancelotti’s appointment is a coup for Brazil, who are currently fourth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table and eager to restore their status as global football powerhouses. The Italian will take charge for Brazil’s upcoming qualifiers against Ecuador on June 4 and Paraguay on June 9, with the goal of building a competitive squad for the 2026 World Cup, hosted in North America. Ancelotti’s familiarity with Brazilian stars like Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo Goes, and Endrick Felipe, whom he coached at Real Madrid, is expected to ease his transition to international management.

The deal, reportedly a one-year contract extending through the 2026 World Cup, positions Ancelotti to become one of the highest-paid national team managers in the world. Spanish outlet Marca indicates that only a signature is pending to finalize the agreement, with the CBF having maintained a tactful approach to avoid straining Ancelotti’s relationship with Real Madrid.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, faces a critical juncture. Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso, a former Real Madrid player and the architect of Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title, is the leading candidate to succeed Ancelotti. Other names in the frame include Jürgen Klopp, recently contacted by the club, and internal options like director of football Santiago Solari, Castilla coach Raúl González, or U-19 coach Álvaro Arbeloa, who could serve as interim managers for the Club World Cup.

Ancelotti’s departure closes a remarkable chapter for Real Madrid, where he became the only coach to win all five major European league titles and a record five Champions League trophies. His move to Brazil, however, opens an exciting new challenge as he aims to guide the five-time World Cup champions to their first title since 2002.