End of an era? Carlo Ancelotti signals willingness to leave Real Madrid to take Brazil job in 2024

According to The Athletic, the Brazilian football federation has received in writing that the Italian manager remains eager to join them once his contract with Los Blancos expires in the summer of 2024. From January 1, Ancelotti would be free to negotiate his future with any potential suitor and the CBF plans to comment on his recruitment in public from the new year to build pressure on the coach and Madrid.

The CBF also claim that they have “legal guarantees” which ensure that Ancelotti will indeed take up the reins next summer. However, that is not binding which leaves the manager with the option to continue at the Spanish capital, provided that he is given an extension by Florentino Perez.

Real Madrid have already been linked with several high-profile names to succeed Ancelotti and one of them happens to be Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who knows the club inside-out, thanks to his stint as a player at the Santiago Bernabeu. Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is one of the options, whereas, there have been intense speculations about a third spell for Zinedine Zidane.

Ancelotti has repeatedly insisted that he enjoys his stint with Madrid. The club also recognises the fact that the Italian has the ability to deal with the pressure - which has been a tall order for some coaches in the past. Moreover, the manager has done a phenomenal job at the club this season, despite injuries to several key players, which has earned him plaudits from the Bernabeu hierarchy and are said to be contemplating offering him a new deal. However, trophies are won in May and if things go wrong at the business end of the season, Perez might want to see the back of the veteran manager.