Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has tipped club manager Carlo Ancelotti to take over the vacant managerial job in the Brazilian national team set-up.
The Italian manager has a contract with Los Blancos until 2024, but his long-term future at the club remains uncertain following their struggles this season.
After guiding the European heavyweights to a double trophy haul last season, Ancelotti’s side have been largely overshadowed by their Spanish rivals Barcelona this term.
Their only hope of silverware is the Champions League after qualifying for the quarter-finals following a 6-2 aggregate win over Liverpool.
There are currently no talks of an extended contract or possible replacements from the Madrid hierarchy, but Ancelotti’s summer departure cannot be ruled out.
The 63-year-old already has an agreement in principle with the Brazilian football confederation (CBF), but there are still certain details to be ironed out.
Ancelotti has already earned the support of Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes, who is optimistic about him becoming the national team’s head coach.
Rodrygo is the latest Selecao to publicly support the former Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus manager for the Brazil job.
“Wow, Mister, we’re waiting for you there,” Rodrygo said in an interview with Globo on Ancelotti’s link to the Brazil job.
“He jokes that we are going to make the summons together. We talk more in a joking tone, but every joke has a little bit of truth.
“The situation there is difficult – you have to leave Real Madrid to come here. So I can’t say beforehand how it’s going to be, but of course it would be an honour to have him here.”
Brazil have been without a permanent manager since Tite stepped down from his role following the disappointment of the World Cup in Qatar last December.
Ramon Menezes has since been appointed interim manager, but it is believed Brazil have tabled a three-year contract to Ancelotti starting in April.
When asked what his club manager will bring to the national team set-up, Rodrygo added: “Experience – he has won everything.
“He knows how to deal with the group and the locker room – this is very important. Sometimes the coach doesn’t even need to be the best tactically or give the best speeches. The team already runs for him.
“He’s very good in the locker room, and that makes a difference. Sometimes we get a lot of tactics, a lot of this and that, and sometimes it’s not what we need.
“He doesn’t go crazy tactically, he does the simple thing, and it’s working.”
