Brazil are set to launch an audacious bid to entice Pep Guardiola into becoming their new manager.
The Selecao are searching for a successor to Tite after the 61-year-old stepped down following their shock quarter-final exit at the World Cup. The tournament favourites were knocked out in dramatic fashion on Friday by underdogs Croatia, who won a tense penalty shootout to set up a semi-final clash with Lionel Messi 's Argentina.
For Brazil, however, they headed home over the weekend and waved goodbye to gaffer Tite, who'd been at the helm for more than six years. The Brazilian FA (CBF) have wasted no time in identifying their top target to replace him, as according to Sport, president Ednaldo Rodrigues will contact Guardiola less than a month after he signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City.
Brazil know that Guardiola has previously expressed his desire to coach their national team, having never forayed into the international game during his esteemed coaching career. And although the Catalan tactician recently committed his future to City, the bigwigs at the CBF are keen to hold talks.
That's because while it's unlikely they'll be able to convince the Guardiola to quit his role at the Etihad any time soon, they still want to know his medium and long-term plans. The 51-year-old's new deal keeps him in Manchester until the summer of 2025, 12 months before the next World Cup begins.
And with Brazil having no competitive matches until the second half of 2023, the CBF are in no rush to appoint Tite's successor. Selecao legend Ronaldo even believes that his nation made an attempt to tee up Guardiola's services before the World Cup in Qatar.
As quoted by Catalan media, Ronaldo claimed: "There was interest in Guardiola, it was discussed with Guardiola's coaching staff, but he preferred to renew the contract with Manchester City. It might be difficult for the CBF to reach an agreement, he is the highest-paid coach in the world."
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The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has publicly flirted with the idea of becoming Brazil's gaffer, and reports in April suggested that he was offered a deal worth £10million per year to take over from Tite. "The next step will be a national team, yes, if there's a chance," Guardiola vowed at the beginning of last season. "I would like to coach at the Euros, a Copa America, a World Cup."
When asked specifically about the Selecao job, he added: "It is a fantastic national team. Brazil is always a strong candidate or the favourite. It always was and it will always be."
Meanwhile, Mirror Football understands that one candidate for the vacant post, Portuguese boss Abel Ferreira, remains happy and focussed on his duties at Brazilian club Palmeiras. 43-year-old Ferreira - a two-time Copa Libertadores winner - was voted the favourite to succeed Tite in a fan poll launch by one of the country's biggest new sites, UOL Esporte, in the wake of the Croatia loss.
