Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid exit confirmed: Revered Italian to end glittering Bernabeu tenure by taking Brazil job as Xabi Alonso waits in the wings

Carlo Ancelotti has signed his contract to take charge of the Brazil national team as their next head coach, ending speculation over his future. The Italian manager will exit Santiago Bernabeu formally after Real Madrid's final La Liga game of the 2024-25 campaign. He will start working with the Selecao on May 26.

Ancelotti will become the first-ever foreign national to take charge of Brazil's men's national team. the CBF have confirmed. The 65-year-old replaces Dorival Junior, who was dismissed by the CBF in March following the humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals and world champions Argentina in a 2026 World Cup qualifying game.

Xabi Alonso, who has already announced his departure from Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, is the leading candidate to succeed the Italian, and Los Blancos will hope to have the Spaniard appointed before the start of the Club World Cup in June.

Ancelotti's final three games in charge of Madrid are against Mallorca, Sevilla and Real Sociedad on May 14, 18 and 25, respectively. He will hope to go out on a high.