Carlo Ancelotti makes bold Real Madrid return admission

Carlo Ancelotti could be open to a shock third spell at Real Madrid after the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Brazil.

The Italian coach ended his second stint in charge of Los Blancos in June, with Xabi Alonso immediately installed as his replacement, as Ancelotti took charge of the Brazil national side.

It’s a career first for Ancelotti, after previously opting to lead Italy, and Brazil have now secured their spot at the tournament next summer.

The pressure will be on Ancelotti to deliver a first World Cup for the Samba Boys since 2002 with his contract up at the end of the competition.

Ancelotti has confirmed he is open to signing an extension, if one is offered by Brazil, with his options open.

“After the World Cup, everything is open. I think it was right at the time to sign a one-year contract. I have no problem if the CBF wants to continue,” he told ESPN.

“There’s no problem. I’m very happy here, my family is happy too. We can think about it. We have time to talk about it, I have no problem continuing. It would be nice (to stay until 2030).”

However, as per an additional interview with French outlet L’Equipe, that the only club he would move to is Real Madrid.

“Real Madrid is the only team I will accept managing after Brazil.

“Last season was complicated. We didn’t achieve the success we wanted. We suffered too many injuries in defence, it was difficult to put together a solid team and support the attacking quality we had.

“Militão, Rüdiger, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal… that’s a lot of important players out injured.”

“There were games where we only had two real defenders, and one of them was Raul Asencio, who had just arrived from the academy, although he was good.”