Just a short 2026 FIFA World Cup stint? That’s the growing sense around Carlo Ancelotti, the revered Italian coach who is preparing to vacate the Real Madrid bench at the end of the current La Liga season. While he’s poised to take charge of the Brazilian national team, murmurs from within the Santiago Bernabeu suggest that Ancelotti’s departure is anything but permanent — and that a reunion with Real Madrid is already being discreetly prepared.
Ancelotti’s final season in charge of Los Blancos will conclude without a major trophy, a result that, by the club’s lofty standards, typically spells the end for any manager. Yet, there’s no animosity between the Italian and the club hierarchy. On the contrary, the 65-year-old remains on excellent terms with club president Florentino Perez, and his departure is being described by insiders as a “see you later” rather than a definitive goodbye.
According to Marca, both parties have already floated the idea of a reunion — not on the touchline, but in a new role within the club, most likely after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when Ancelotti’s Brazil contract is set to expire.
“On May 25, he will bid farewell to Santiago Bernabeu, but more than a goodbye forever, it will be a tribute and a ‘see you later’,” the Spanish outlet reports.
The Brazil project: Short but significant chapter?
Ancelotti’s move to coach Brazil represents an unprecedented step. Never before has he managed a national team, let alone one with the stature and expectation of the Seleção. Yet even this thrilling challenge comes with an expiration date.
“Carlo Ancelotti knew that after a trophyless season, he couldn’t continue at Real Madrid,” wrote Marca. “Despite having a contract until 2026, he will leave without any hindrance and without asking for a single euro for his termination.”
His tenure in Brazil will see him work with familiar faces. Vinicius and Rodrygo — both of whom have flourished under the experienced boss in the Spanish capital — are expected to be central figures in his new project. Furthermore, Ancelotti has already reportedly reached out to Casemiro, reportedly viewing the former Whites midfielder as a cornerstone for his Brazilian rebuild.
