Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior has sparked new life into the the Carlo Ancelotti-to-Brazil rumours. The Italian has been consistently linked with he vacant Brazil job, as the the five-time world champions are still searching Tite’s successor. Tite resigned from the job following his failure to lead a Brazil squad brimming with immense talent to World Cup glory in Qatar.
Ever since Tite’s resignation, Brazil have been approaching a number of candidates for the job. And after months of scouring the market, where a host of managers were available, the South American giants have identified Carlo Ancelotti as their prime target. Many of the Brazil players, including Manchester City’s Ederson have teased Ancelotti’s appointment, with Vinicius Junior the latest to do so.
Vinicius Junior echoes Ancelotti for Brazil after making ‘best coach’ admission
With Ancelotti tied to his current job at Bernabeu till the summer of 2024, Brazil are having difficulties enticing the Italian for their vacant job. Although the defending European champions are having a difficult season under Ancelotti so far, as they sit second in La Liga 13 points behind fierce rivals Barcelona, Real Madrid are not yet ready to part ways with their manager given his Champions League pedigree.
After leading the Los Blancos to their 14th Champions League title last season, Ancelotti is eyeing a semifinals berth this season as well with Real in driver’s seat in their quarterfinals tie against Chelsea as a result of a 2-0 win in the first leg at home. With results pouring in Champions League, both Real Madrid and Ancelotti seem happy to continue their marriage.
However, Brazil too are determined to test the waters with the Spanish giants, as they look to lure Ancelotti away from Bernabeu to Rio de Janeiro. And Vinicius Junior too now wants his club boss at national team, although the Brazilian admits that he would love to work with the Italian in both set-ups. Speaking after the Chelsea game, the winger said:
“Ancelotti is the best coach in the world, for me and for all the players in the team. Hopefully, he can train me at both, at Real Madrid or in Brazil.”
Moreover, this is not the first time Vinicius Junior has pitched for Ancelotti to takeover the Brazil job. Just three weeks ago, as Brazil were preparing to face Morocco in a friendly, Vinicius, when asked about the prospect of Ancelotti managing the national team, told reporters post a training session:
“For me, it’s really hard to talk about it because if I have him with Brazil I would lose him in Real Madrid and if I have him with Real Madrid I would not have him with Brazil. Ancelotti is the best coach I ever had. He is very fond of me and that sentiment is mutual. I believe he would be very helpful here as he is in Real Madrid.”
“Ancelotti is the best because of the way he treats me and how he deals with young players. His knowledge and the way that he teaches. He is also very fond of the Brazilian players. The great Ronaldo Nazario talks a lot about him, he tells me that Ancelotti is also the best coach he had in his career. Being with Ancelotti every day I see that. That’s why he is so respected.”
After falling out of favour with former manager Zinedine Zidane and facing criticism from the media and supporters who questioned whether he was even worth the 45 million euros Real Madrid paid Flamengo for him when he was 17, Vinicius Junior had his breakthrough season last year under Ancelotti. He also is having an amazing 2022–23 season, with 21 goals and 16 assists in 45 games so far.