The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) have denied reaching an agreement with Carlo Ancelotti to become the Selecao’s new manager.
Real Madrid boss Ancelotti is the latest high-profile boss to be linked with the Brazil national job, with reports on Friday suggesting that his appointment was imminent.
However, the Italian himself denied the speculation at a press conference held before Saturday’s Club World Cup final clash with Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal in the Moroccan capital Rabat, telling reporters: “I don’t know anything about this, I don’t even know what they reported in Brazil.
“I’m Real Madrid coach, my contract is until June 2024.”
Such a denial has also now been swiftly backed up by the CBF, who released their own statement on Friday afternoon which read: “We can deny any agreement reached with Ancelotti.
“We suggest to leave the speculations — we will decide and then announce our new head coach at the right moment.”
Roma’s Jose Mourinho is among the other top-level coaches to have been linked with the Brazil job in the aftermath of the 2022 World Cup.
Previous manager Tite stood down from the role in December after his side were stunned by Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals in Qatar.
Though revered and hugely successful at club level, Ancelotti has no prior experience of international management, though did begin his coaching career as an assistant to Arrigo Sacchi with Italy in the early 1990s.
The 63-year-old returned for a second stint at Real Madrid in June 2021, leaving Everton to become Zinedine Zidane’s successor on a three-year contract.
Ancelotti guided Los Blancos to LaLiga, Champions League and Supercopa de Espana triumphs in his first season back at the Bernabeu, also later lifting the Uefa Super Cup after victory over Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt in Helsinki.
Madrid will hope to add the Club World Cup to their trophy haul this weekend for the first time since lifting it four times in five years between 2014-18, though currently trail Barcelona by eight points at the LaLiga summit after 20 matches and must also meet their fiercest rivals in a two-legged Copa del Rey semi-final tie.
