Kafu: "Ancelotti is not the right coach for Brazil, he does not know local players well enough"

The former captain of the Brazil national team and legendary defender Cafu shared his thoughts on Carlo Ancelotti, the Real Madrid coach, who is a main candidate for the national team head coach position. According to him, the experienced Italian specialist may not be the best choice for the Brazil national team.

“The current situation is very clear – our national team does not have its own manager, and we need a qualified coach as soon as possible. Of course, everyone knows that Ancelotti has coaching abilities, experience, and results. If he comes and puts the situation in the team on the right track, that would be great. However, I have quite a few doubts about this,” Cafu began in an interview with ESPN.

Cafu acknowledges that Ancelotti knows players in European football well, but he expresses serious concerns about the Italian specialist's understanding of the Brazilian championship and local players:

“Ancelotti only knows Brazilian players who play in European championships when forming his squad. He understands well in which situations and styles to use these players. But the issue is not limited to just these players!”

“Let’s think, is Ancelotti really ready to wake up at 3-4 AM to watch important matches like 'Flamengo' – 'Corinthians' or 'São Paulo' – 'Palmeiras' to follow the Brazilian national championship? Overall, how aware is Ancelotti of what is happening in Brazilian football?” Cafu did not hide his concerns.

Moreover, he emphasized that the success of the national team is not only related to players in European clubs but also significantly depends on young talents who are performing well in the Brazilian championship.

“Many say Ancelotti is the ideal choice for Brazil because he knows the guys in Europe well. But what about the young players shining in our local championship? Who pays attention to the players who are showing excellent performances in the national championship? If we want to make the national team a powerhouse, we need to answer such questions,” Cafu said.

It is worth noting that there have been many reports in recent months about Carlo Ancelotti being appointed as the head coach of the Brazil national team. However, there is currently no official agreement, and Ancelotti himself has not made any public statements on this matter. Additionally, Ancelotti's current contract with Real Madrid runs until 2026.