Madrid (dpa via REUTERS)

Decorated Italian football manager Carlo Ancelotti will not become the new Brazil coach after all, according to various media reports.

The 65-year-old Italian declined the offer, Spanish newspaper Marca said on Wednesday (April 30), adding that he had travelled to London specifically to sign the contract before the deal fell apart.

Reports said Ancelotti thanked the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) for its interest, but is now considering an offer from Saudi Arabia.

This would mark the second time the Brazilians have failed to secure the highly decorated coach, who could leave Real Madrid after a disappointing season.

Speculation has even arisen over whether Madrid blocked the Brazil deal while reports suggest that Ancelotti is demanding compensation from Madrid as his contract runs until June 2026.

The Brazilian website O Globo wrote: “The deal between Carlo Ancelotti and the CBF failed due to a major obstacle: Real Madrid.”

Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, currently with Saudi’s Al-Hilal, is now considered a candidate for the Brazil job, which the South Americans aim to fill before the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in early June.

It remains uncertain how the situation with Ancelotti and Madrid will now unfold.

This also leaves the future of Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso unclear. The Spaniard was seen as the favourite to succeed Ancelotti at Madrid.

Leverkusen are pushing for a decision, as Alonso’s contract runs until mid-2026.

Ancelotti is one of the most successful coaches in global football. He has won the UEFA Champions League five times — twice with AC Milan and three times with Real Madrid.

He has also won league titles in all five major European leagues. No coach before him had achieved this feat.