Dorival Junior’s departure has sparked a wave of speculation about who will take over as Brazil’s next national team coach, with Carlo Ancelotti widely considered the front-runner. Surprisingly, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni was also mentioned as a potential candidate—and he has now responded to the rumors.
The idea of Scaloni coaching Brazil was floated by journalist Flavio Prado during an appearance on Brazilian television program Jovem Pan Esporte. Amid ongoing negotiations over the next head coach, Prado explained why he believed Scaloni would be an ideal—if unconventional—choice:
“The CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) should make an offer for Scaloni to destabilize Argentina. It doesn’t matter how much he earns. They should offer him five times more. He goes home and tells his wife what Brazil is offering. The guy’s going to go crazy. If he accepts, good for the CBF. And if not, in the worst-case scenario, the AFA’s budget will go up and they’ll have to raise his salary. They should make an offer for Scaloni.”
Scaloni shuts down Brazil rumors
It didn’t take long for the rumors to reach Scaloni, who has won every major title available with the Argentina national team. In an interview with Spanish journalist Siro Lopez, Scaloni was asked about the surprising reports and quickly dismissed them.
“I found out about this just now. No one has called me, just to be clear,” he said with a laugh, visibly surprised by the speculation. When asked whether he would consider the Brazil job, Scaloni shut it down immediately: “No. I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart. Let Carlo (Ancelotti) go if he has to, but not me.”
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Scaloni signed a contract extension with the Argentine Football Association in February 2023, shortly after leading Argentina to World Cup glory. His deal runs through the end of the 2026 World Cup, making any move unlikely.
With Carlo Ancelotti reportedly finalizing his exit from Real Madrid and having already reached a verbal agreement to lead Brazil through the 2026 World Cup, Scaloni has made it clear he won’t be getting in the way of that plan.
