Four days remain until January 1, when Carlo Ancelotti will be free to negotiate with any club. The Italian coach is concluding his current spell with Real Madrid on June 30, and at this moment there is no clear indication whether he will remain on the Madrid bench next season. This would mark the end of a second three-year stint in charge of the Whites.
Negotiations with Brazil
Early speculation suggested Ancelotti might accept the offer from the Brazilian Football Confederation. It has been reported that the coach has spoken openly about the possibility of leaving club football in the near term, aiming to coach a national team or retire from the touchline at a mature age to enjoy the game with fewer daily pressures. The demands of a modern club job, some argued, did not align with his personal outlook.
There were even reports in Brazil that a formal agreement had been reached between Carletto and the former CBF president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, who had visited Madrid at the end of the previous season to meet the Italian coach. Brazilian officials reportedly pressed for a signature last summer, but Ancelotti chose to finish the season with Real Madrid, leaving Brazil to keep interim boss Fernando Diniz in place until his departure.
‘Brazil Gate’
The situation took a dramatic turn after the emergence of a scandal dubbed ‘Brazilgate.’ In recent weeks the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice moved to remove Ednaldo Rodrigues from the CBF presidency and set elections within 30 days. The court ruled that Rodrigues had signed an agreement with the Public Ministry while serving as interim president, bypassing club consent and altering regional selection rules, a move deemed illegal by the judiciary.
Rodrigues no longer chairs the CBF, and FIFA signaled potential repercussions including suspension for Brazil from international competitions if necessary. FIFA and CONMEBOL stressed that member associations must govern themselves independently, free from government interference. The prospect of Brazil’s exclusion from this summer’s Copa América loomed, while interim administrator José Perdiz insisted that elections would proceed as planned.
Consequently, discussions between Ancelotti and Rodrigues stalled. At present, Ancelotti’s plan appears to hinge on a renewal offer from Real Madrid to extend his tenure, with staying at the Bernabéu emerging as the most plausible option. The rate at which Brazil slid into a losing streak while Diniz was at the helm further complicated the appeal of a Brazil appointment.
Optimism at Real Madrid
Inside Real Madrid there is a sense of cautious optimism about the season’s trajectory should the club conclude its campaigns with trophies. Executives view Ancelotti’s reticence about his future as a tactical move—an effort to handle the matter discreetly and avoid constant pressroom speculation. He has consistently declined to comment on his plans when queried about renewal. There were even internal surveys about renewal intentions that were floated but not carried to completion. The possibility of Xabi Alonso renewing with Leverkusen through 2026 is seen as a positive development for stability.
Meanwhile, Davide Ancelotti has reportedly rebuffed several offers. He had not yet earned a managerial title before this summer, after taking charge at Everton earlier in the year. Club sources indicate that Carlo’s son rejected opportunities from clubs in England, Italy, and even some prominent Turkish sides, underscoring the family’s preference for long-term alignment with Real Madrid if it occurs.
Looking ahead to 2024, Madrid faces an unknown chapter. The club plans to present a renewal proposal contingent on lifting the league title and maintaining performance in European competition. Past campaigns brought a domestic cup, a European Super Cup, and a Club World Cup, but a league title and a deep Champions League run remain the benchmarks. Injuries and tactical adjustments are acknowledged as current challenges, fueling ongoing discussions about the manager’s future. The current mood is that Ancelotti’s fate may hinge on the team’s success in domestic and continental play, with many weighing the optics of a renewed contract against the broader context of the club’s strategic transition. The latest conversations suggest that, without a dramatic turn, the question of Ancelotti’s immediate future at Real Madrid will likely be resolved through the club’s renewal talks in the coming weeks. The ripple effect of ‘Brasilgate’ persists, coloring every update about Ancelotti’s plans and Madrid’s next moves [Source: internal briefing notes].