Carlo Ancelotti faces one of the greatest challenges of his career: managing Brazil's national team. His arrival on the bench sparked excitement in the South American country, where they trust his experience to restore lost glory, while also generating international interest due to the magnitude of the challenge.
At Real Madrid, he left an indelible memory. The Brazilians in the white squad always saw him as a close, almost paternal figure, capable of giving them confidence and stability in difficult moments. That relationship created the expectation that he would have a special approach with them in his new stage.
However, managing a national team with such high demands involves difficult decisions. Ancelotti seeks a balance between youth, experience, and immediate performance, but not all his choices have been understood by the fans. In his first list, controversy quickly arose.
Real Madrid, Ancelotti and the debate over his first list with Brazil
The coach surprised everyone by leaving out all Real Madrid representatives. No one expected such a forceful move, especially considering the influence they have within the Brazilian national team.
The most widespread explanation is that the Italian wanted to give a break to those who have a very demanding schedule, which in theory would help protect them. However, the interpretation hasn't been unanimous and the debate has reached the Spanish press.
The most striking thing is that, at the same time, he did include Raphinha in the squad. That decision created a sense of injustice among Barça's circle, who believe the same criteria weren't applied to everyone.
Ancelotti calls up Raphinha and leaves out Madridists
On Barça's side, they believe the situation harms them. Meanwhile, Madridists enjoy a break protected by their coach, while Raphinha will have to face top-level international commitments.
On social media, the discontent was expressed with strong phrases like "this isn't the way," accusing Ancelotti of favoring Real Madrid's players. The sense of comparative grievance was immediate.
The coach, however, didn't offer public explanations about the criteria for his list. That silence further fueled the controversy and left open the interpretation of whether there's a double standard in his management.
A start with highs and lows for Ancelotti
The relationship between Real Madrid, Brazil, and Ancelotti is marked by this first clash. The upcoming international commitments will be decisive in determining whether his strategy is effective or if the pressure will end up affecting his leadership.
What seems clear is that every squad announcement will be under the scrutiny of the media and the fans, both in Spain and South America. In such a demanding context, he won't have room for communication errors or poorly explained decisions.
Ancelotti starts with authority, but also with very visible criticism. The challenge now will be to balance rest, fairness, and results to keep the stability of a project that's just beginning.