Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to leave the Spanish club at the end of the season to become the new national team coach of Brazil, according to reports on Monday.
The 65-year-old Italian is poised to officially take charge of Brazil on May 26 following the conclusion of the LaLiga season.
Ancelotti leaves the Santiago Bernabeu as one of the club’s most successful managers, having won 15 trophies across two spells as Real manager and last season led Los Blancos to a UEFA Champions League and LaLiga double.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid reportedly want Xabi Alonso in place as their new manager in time for the start of next month’s FIFA Club World Cup.
Reports said the plan is for Alonso, 43, to travel to Madrid on June 1 to prepare the team for their first game of the inaugural FIFA tournament on June 18 against Saudi side Al-Hilal in Miami.
Former Real, Liverpool and Spain midfielder Alonso announced on Friday he was leaving German side Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season.
It was not Alonso’s intention to join up with Real this early but conversations took place last week and the club felt it did not make sense to use an interim before the Basque manager took over.
Current Real manager Carlo Ancelotti will be given a send-off, probably at the final home game of the season against Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu on 25 May.
Real have not yet publicly confirmed Ancelotti’s expected departure or Alonso’s arrival.
