Brazil Nears Deal with Carlo Ancelotti for 2026 World Cup: Ronaldo Reveals Close Call

Brazil Nears Deal with Carlo Ancelotti for 2026 World Cup: Ronaldo Reveals Close Call


  • Brazil was in discussions with Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti to take up the role of their coach.

  • The Italian declined the offer and chose to stay with the La Liga heavyweights.

  • LISTEN NOW: The Action Has Begun! Can England’s Team Claim Victory at the World Cup?

According to a report, the Brazilian football federation has expressed renewed interest in Carlo Ancelotti and wishes for him to lead their team at the 2026 World Cup.

This development follows
The Selecao’s humiliating 4-1 loss to their fierce rivals Argentina.
During the World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday evening, Brazil found themselves positioned in fourth spot. In this phase of CONMEBOL qualification, only the top six nations secure automatic berths into the upcoming event hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

The CBF last followed up with the 65-year-old in 2023 and was ready to appoint him as the country’s first foreign head coach, marking a significant move. This came as his second stint at the Bernabeu appeared to be winding down.

According to
The Athletic
, the federation has once again communicated with the Italians amid growing pressure on current coach Dorival Junior. The report also mentions that Madrid stated they were not aware of any communication between their manager and the CBF.

Previously, Brazilian icon Ronaldo Nazario stated that Brazil’s quest for
Carlo Ancelotti
in 2023 was ‘not a fantasy’ after he turned down their approach.

Ancelotti was entering the last year of his deal with Real Madrid, and Brazil were hopeful about attracting him to their team, as he had several players there whom he knew well.
Los Blancos
Stars participate in their country’s national football matches.



CBF President Ednaldo Rodrigues, who secured another term earlier this week without opposition, announced to the country that Ancelotti will assume the position once his deal with Madrid ends in 2024, right before the World Cup.
Copa America
, in the USA during June.

“You can count on him being here,” stated Rodrigues about Ancelotti.

Of course, that didn’t happen, and following the appointment of Fernando Diniz to oversee the squad temporarily along with his duties as Fluminense’s head coach, Junior was selected to take charge. Ronaldo disclosed that Real Madrid nearly terminated Carlo Ancelotti’s contract, which could have led to him taking over in Brazil instead.

‘It was not a fantasy because I helped in the process by talking to Carlo, but he was not released,’ he told Charla Podcast. ‘Real Madrid did not release him.

‘Following all negotiations, everything got held up as he lacked Real Madrid’s release.’

‘Had he not clinched a title, Real Madrid would have sacked him and brought in Ancelotti instead, however, his victory in the Champions League secured him an additional year at the helm.’

Rumors about Ancelotti’s future continue to circulate despite Madrid’s outstanding performance and significant trophy collection during his second tenure. The potential return of Xabi Alonso, who previously played for Madrid and currently manages Bayer Leverkusen, adds another layer of intrigue.

A lot of people thought he would transfer to Spain during the previous summer after leading Bayer Leverkusen to their inaugural Bundesliga championship, along with winning both the German Cup and securing a spot in the Europa League final.

Earlier this year, the individual who is 65 years old tackled the rumors head-on and offered a typically philosophical view of his circumstances.

I want to make myself absolutely clear: I will never choose the date of my exit from this club throughout my lifetime,” he stated. “I am fully aware that there will be a day when I leave, but I won’t be the one deciding that particular day.

‘It might happen tomorrow or within one to five years. My benefit lies in having Florentino [Perez] remain for another four years, and my aim is to accomplish our goals during this time alongside him. We could part ways together then.’

After their convincing win earlier this week, Argentina extended their lead at the top of the South American qualifying group to eight points, whereas Brazil still has some ground to cover to secure their place in the 2026 World Cup.

Apart from the six teams securing automatic qualification spots, the team ending up in seventh place will compete in a playoff match. Brazil currently holds a six-point lead over seventh-place Venezuela with just four more qualifying games remaining.

Read more

Victor Wanyama Joins Dunfermline Athletic: Ex-Harambee Stars Captain Makes Comeback

Victor Wanyama Joins Dunfermline Athletic: Ex-Harambee Stars Captain Makes Comeback


  • Victor Wanyama has signed with the Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic, several months since departing from the Canadian team Montreal Impact.

  • The ex-captain of Harambee Stars has joined forces again with his previous mentor from Celtic, Neil Lennon, who took charge just last week.

  • Both teams aim to help Dundee United avoid falling into the relegation zone, as Dunfermline finds itself perilously close to slipping down.

Following months of doubt and rumors, Victor Wanyama has at last secured a spot with a new team.

What clubs has Victor Wanyama been part of?

Wanyama has signed with Dunfermline Athletic in Scotland’s second division on a temporary deal that will run through the conclusion of the season.

Wanyama’s most recent game was with the Canadian team Montreal Impact prior to him departing following the conclusion of his contract last year.

The ex-captain of Harambee Stars has now joined a team in Scotland’s second-tier league, playing under Neil Lennon. During his previous time in Scotland, when he represented Celtic, Lennon coached him.

Recently, Lennon has signed with Dunfermline Athletic and is set to oversee his inaugural match this weekend against Ayr.

The Pars find themselves engaged in a crucial struggle to maintain their position among the second-tier teams this campaign. Positioned at ninth spot with 27 points in an 18-team league—and just a handful of matches remaining—they face significant pressure. To dodge relegation, they must outperform Airdrieonians, who sit at the bottom with 21 points.

Neil Lennon shared his reflections upon signing with Dunfermline.

The team in ninth position will advance to the playoffs. Currently, Dunfermline is just two points behind Hamilton, which occupies the final safety slot.

“As new arrivals join us right now, this could be an opportune moment to boost both the team members and the club. The duration of these enhancements remains uncertain. With only seven matches left in the season, our aim is to secure victories in as many of them as possible. My focus isn’t on what lies behind me; instead, I am concentrating on Hamilton and Queens Park finishing the season in a decent middle-table spot. This strategic consideration guides our approach,” stated Lennon when he was introduced, according to the club’s media coverage.

The ex-Hibernian coach also conveyed his joy in collaborating with the perfect mix of athletes he possessed at East End Park, an ensemble that will be augmented even more by Wanyama joining the team.

It shows promise, there’s talent present. I’m pleased with what I’ve observed, particularly from the players. Although we’ve just arrived two days ago, we’ve been greatly impressed by the untapped potential. Currently, our performance isn’t up to par, which presents a challenge for me—to shift the mindset both within the club and specifically inside the locker room. Everyone we’re collaborating with has shown an open-minded approach towards us.

Victor Wanyama visits Tottenham


SANGGRALOKA.co.ke

previously mentioned that Victor Wanyama had been to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Former Spurs midfielder Wanyama returned to his former stomping grounds over the weekend, appearing as a special guest at Tottenham’s Premier League match against Manchester United.

Ex-Man United Star Slams Alejandro Garnacho as CR7 ‘Fanboy,’ Accuses Him of Disappointing Family and Club

Ex-Man United Star Slams Alejandro Garnacho as CR7 ‘Fanboy,’ Accuses Him of Disappointing Family and Club


  • Alejandro Garnacho has found it challenging to maintain his momentum since emerging into prominence.

  • A previous Manchester United player has now lambasted him in a harsh critique.

  • LISTEN NOW: The Action Has Begun! Can England’s Team Claim Victory at the World Cup?

A former
Manchester United
The star has launched a harsh criticism towards the winger.
Alejandro Garnacho
.

The young Argentine forward joined Old Trafford in October 2020 at the age of 16, with great expectations that this wing player might emulate
Cristiano Ronaldo
‘ footsteps to etch his name into the club’s history as a legendary figure.

In 2021, the duo played together after Ronaldo rejoined Manchester United, but Garnacho’s progress has been hindered over the last year due to conflicts with several coaches. Garnacho also showed support for a social media post that criticized his previous manager at United.
Erik ten Hag
for removing him from the team
Bournemouth
the previous year before later issuing an apology.

He subsequently couldn’t conceal his irritation at being replaced.
Ruben Amorim
Last month, following Patrick Dorgu’s red card during the first half of United’s 3-2 victory over
Ipswich
.

Former United right-back Paul Parker, who represented the team from 1991 to 1996 and earned 19 international caps for England,
England
is worried about Garnacho’s behavior and has stated that he keeps disappointing others when laughing away queries suggesting Garnacho might match Ronaldo’s caliber.

Parker mentioned, “I enjoyed watching Garnacho when he first emerged, as he possessed that distinctive Argentine passion within him, but this fervor seems to have vanished entirely now.”
SpilXperten
‘. “He has disappointed both himself and his family. He has also let his club down as he isn’t making use of the talents he was expected to possess.”



I haven’t heard anything from him lately. The crucial point for him right now is to grasp his strengths and weaknesses. He struggles with managing people, isn’t fast enough, and lacks the drive to put in hard work. Therefore, what exactly does he excel at?

He has to understand this and demonstrate it, instead of merely aspiring to be the next Ronaldo.

At present, he appears to me as nothing more than a Ronaldo enthusiast, someone who prefers creating highlight reels for social media instead of actually securing victories on the pitch and restoring greatness to this club.

Garnacho was rumored to be moving from United in January, but ultimately remained with the team.

He is currently attempting to adjust to Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation, where he has been deployed as an attacking midfielder instead of a pure winger.

Amorim has commended Garnacho for his contributions over the past few weeks, yet Parker still isn’t convinced and is quickly losing patience due to his insufficient progress.

He maintains that Garnacho’s age should not continue to be used as an excuse, and has encouraged him to put in more effort to reach his full potential.

We can’t continue to use the argument that Garnacho is young,” Parker stated. “At this point, he isn’t considered young in football terms anymore. He’ll turn 21 this summer, and soon enough, he’ll be 30. It’s crucial for him to grasp this reality and begin delivering.


The top athletes, such as Ryan Giggs, weren’t seen as young talents even when they reached 21 years old. While Garnacho may still lack maturity, he isn’t considered young anymore either. It’s quite disappointing that he hasn’t been able to perform at all recently.

He isn’t performing as maturely as expected, nor does his behavior reflect that of an adult. He really needs to take a long hard look at himself and admit that he must stop dreaming of becoming the next Ronaldo. It’s just not going to happen for him, so he should focus on working diligently to build a respectable career instead.

Garnacho has managed only four league goals so far this season as Manchester United sits at 13th place, but he found the back of the net in their most recent match before the international break—a convincing 3-0 victory against Leicester.

He is set to come back into play when United visits the in-form Nottingham Forest side next Tuesday.

Read more

Beth Mead Demands Better: Players Deserve Superior Pitch Quality After Women’s Champions League Frustration

Beth Mead Demands Better: Players Deserve Superior Pitch Quality After Women’s Champions League Frustration


  • The condition of the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano pitch was heavily criticized.

  • The Gunners aim to reverse a 2-0 deficit in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.

  • LISTEN NOW: It’s all Heating Up! Can England’s Team Claim the World Cup Title?

Beth Mead
Has mentioned it’s ‘deserved by the players’ for Women’s
Champions League
Games should be held on higher-quality pitches afterwards.
Arsenal
’s quarter-final defeat at
Real Madrid
Last week at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium, the match was played on a waterlogged pitch.

In an interview with Mail Sport before the second leg at the Emirates on Wednesday night, where Arsenal trails 2-0 overall, the 29-year-old striker stated, “This was not my favorite playing surface this entire season. It was a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, primarily for the sake of player safety.”

‘(Although it was not the ideal surface to play on,) we still needed to carry out our duties and proceed accordingly. It has certainly been discussed, and let’s hope improvements can be made for upcoming games.’

adamantly refused to make excuses for Arsenal’s two-goal deficit. Mead stated, “(Madrid) had only two opportunities and converted both. In the end, they performed better than us on a poor field, which is incredibly frustrating.”

‘However, we understand the caliber of our squad as a unit, and we must demonstrate our capabilities next week when we face them at the Emirates. Hopefully, this will allow us to regain momentum in the match. Nonetheless, we remain fully confident as a team.’

More than 20,000 tickets have already been snapped up for Wednesday’s match, and as sales continue leading up to the event, there is potential for this number to break the present attendance record set during a UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final.
England
— which stands at 21,307, set by Arsenal — could potentially be shattered.



Mead anticipates that the supporters will infuse the squad with substantial vigor, predicting an offensive showcase with numerous goals.

‘We need to deliver a top-notch performance to secure our spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League, which will undoubtedly require an excellent showing against a strong Real Madrid team,’ she stated. ‘However, it’s achievable. We’ll head into this match confident that we can score goals and turn the game around.’

Beth Mead, the McDonald’s Fun Football ambassador, stated: “Although I’ve attended numerous McDonald’s Fun Football events, this particular occasion stood out because of the collaboration with UK Deaf Sport. This ensures that each child gets an opportunity to participate in football through over 20 complimentary sessions designed for those who have hearing impairments scheduled throughout the nation during springtime. Even though the format differed from usual, the joy expressed on their faces remained unchanged. Registrations for the program are currently available, and I truly look forward to seeing even greater numbers of kids joining in.”


McDonald’s Fun Football alongside UK Deaf Sport is providing complimentary specialized football classes for kids who have hearing impairments throughout England. Locate your closest session here.


mcdonalds.co.uk/football


.

Read more

Premier League Star Wows Amateurs in Epic Five-A-Side Showdown

Premier League Star Wows Amateurs in Epic Five-A-Side Showdown


  • A top footballer from the Premier League has displayed his skills on a small-sided soccer field.

  • He outperformed his competitors, effortlessly controlling the ball as he wished.

  • Spectators were amazed by his appearance when he was out of the Premier League.

A
Premier League
star has showcased his impressive ability after a clip of him playing five-a-side football was posted online.

He stood head and shoulders above both his teammates and opponents, effortlessly controlling the ball to leave spectators in awe of those fortunate enough to share the field with him.

A complex mix of precise details, nutmegs, and debut finishes was showcased as he towered over his peers.

The player under discussion is James McAtee, who has made an impression at the Premier League winners.
Manchester City
following their journey through the academy.

In response to the clips of McAtees gameplay that were shared in the comment section once the video was uploaded, people reacted.
TikTok
, users were amazed at how well he appeared beyond his professional setting.

One user commented: ‘The difficulty of the levels is outrageous.’


A second chimed in: “Something that won’t be captured in a brief clip is his ability to maintain top performance throughout the entire match.”

‘ Elite endurance is simply on another plane compared to regular folks like us.’

A third commented: “I mean no disrespect to the other players, but have you seen their stats? They excel in tight spaces, possess remarkable touch, exceptional ball control and manipulation, plus they show great composure. It’s delightful to watch.”

An additional remark stated: “Higher up… the calmness in stressful circumstances”.

McAtee,

Who has just one year remaining on their contract this summer has openly expressed their ambition to secure a consistent spot in City’s starting lineup. However, the competition for places in the attacking midfield roles is intense.


City could well lose

Jack Grealish

and

Kevin De Bruyne

This summer, however, McAtee is drawn to the idea of consistent first-team play.


Bayer Leverkusen’s top priority for recruitment this summer is McAfee, assuming they decide to part ways with Florian Wirtz.

Mail Sport disclosed in December that the German champions were chasing the 22-year-old McAtee, and they submitted an official request in January but were turned down by City.

However, with
Pep Guardiola
Among those chasing Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz this summer, the German club is aggressively looking for a playmaker to replace him. They are ready to make bids for McAtee during talks with City.

Manchester City are leading the race for Wirtz, who at 21 years old is somewhat younger compared to McAtee. He has also already secured his place in the German national team.

The current Premier League title holders view Wirtz as a player who could easily adapt to their playing style. In discussions, Leverkusen may seek to include McAtee in any potential deals.

Read more

Premier League Reveals Fixture Changes for Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea — Man United’s Still Up in the Air

Premier League Reveals Fixture Changes for Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea — Man United’s Still Up in the Air



  • All teams in the top division except for two still have nine Premier League fixtures remaining.



  • Liverpool and Arsenal have had their fixtures rescheduled for later in the season.


  • LISTEN NOW: Things Are Getting Exciting! Available on all podcast platforms. New episodes drop every Monday and Thursday.

The
Premier League
has announced schedule modifications for several of its prominent teams — including those contending for the championship.
Liverpool
and
Arsenal
.

The Reds are close to securing the Premier League trophy.
Arne Slot
In his initial season at the helm, he now has a lead of 12 points over Arsenal, with each team having nine fixtures remaining.

The gentlemen will have to compete against things like
Everton
,
Tottenham
And during the concluding matches, Arsenal only needs five victories to secure their second Premier League championship.

However, one match has been rescheduled as television selections for the season finale keep getting finalized, including Liverpool’s encounter with
Chelsea
In Match Week 35, now scheduled for Sunday, May 4 at 4:30 PM.

This is one out of six matches that were rescheduled to cater to broadcasting requirements that weekend, with the match being broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s match for that week has also been rescheduled,
Mikel Arteta
‘side to face
Bournemouth
At the Emirates on Saturday, May 3rd at 5:30 PM, also broadcasted on Sky Sports.



In another match,Manchester City is scheduled to welcome Wolves on May 2 as part of their Friday night fixture for that week, airing live on Sky Sports at 8 pm.

During the Saturday noon match, Fulham is set to play away against Aston Villa, with the game being broadcast live on TNT Sports.

Additionally, on Sunday, Brighton will welcome Newcastle to their stadium as the opening match of the broadcaster’s double-header Super Sunday lineup.

The week concludes as Crystal Palace welcomes Nottingham Forest on Monday, May 5th, with the match starting at 8 PM.

According to the timetable, both Manchester United and Tottenham have away matches scheduled for Saturday at 3 pm, and none of these games will be televised in the UK.

Manchester United will head to Brentford, whereas struggling Tottenham Hotspur will face West Ham in an East London rivalry – however, these fixtures might still be rescheduled.

The Premier League has stated that should a team reach the Europa League semi-finals, one of their matches will be rescheduled for Sunday with a kickoff time of 2 pm; however, this match won’t be televised.

The rescheduled match between Newcastle and Crystal Palace, set for Wednesday, April 16, has been confirmed to start at 7:30 PM and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Read more

Login Required

Please log in to add tours to your wishlist.

Log In