Brazil are reportedly 'insisting' on appointing Carlo Ancelotti as their new head coach, with the national team said to be working on a deal which would see the Italian arrive before the Club World Cup.
Ancelotti could lead Real Madrid to three trophies this season, with the UEFA Super Cup already secured, while the capital giants are chasing success in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
However, the manner of the team's elimination to Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League - a 5-1 aggregate loss - is believed to have led to president Florentino Perez making the decision to change managers this summer.
Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso is believed to be Real Madrid's number one choice for the role, and according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Brazil are working on a move for Ancelotti.
Romano claims that senior figures from the Brazilian Football Confederation are in Madrid and will hold talks with Ancelotti's representatives next week in the hope that a deal could be agreed, as it is expected that Real Madrid will sack him in the coming weeks.
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Brazil 'working on deal' for Ancelotti
According to The Athletic, Brazil are desperate for Ancelotti to lead them into the 2026 World Cup, with the national team searching for a replacement for Dorival Junior, who left in March.
Brazil are said to want a new manager in place before their next set of matches in June, with their clash with Ecuador at the start of the month coming after a heavy defeat to Argentina at the end of March.
There have even been suggestions that Ancelotti could lose his job after the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona next weekend, although Real Madrid will play twice before that match, against Athletic Bilbao and Getafe in La Liga.
Ancelotti played down suggestions of a conflict with Real Madrid president Perez when questioned on his future during his press conference to preview Sunday night's La Liga clash with Athletic.
"We have the same idea - there is no conflict with the club," said Ancelotti. "Whoever says that there is a conflict is false. The president shows more affection in these moments than when we win.
"The Champions League is the most important competition for everyone. And the Champions League is the most important history of Madrid. But it's not true that the rest do not count."
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How will the situation play out?
Real Madrid are believed to be giving serious consideration to making a change ahead of the expanded Club World Cup, which starts in the middle of June, but there are doubts over whether a deal for Alonso could be done before then.
As a result, it is thought to be possible that either Real Madrid Castilla head coach Raul or Real Madrid's director of football Santiago Solari could be placed in charge on a temporary basis while a deal for Alonso is negotiated.
Ancelotti is set to leave this summer, though, and he has long been linked with the Brazil post, so it is extremely likely that the 65-year-old will soon be confirmed as the new manager of the five-time World Cup winners.
Matt Law
