PETE JENSON: Carlo Ancelotti realised he didn't need to leave Real Madrid to manage the best Brazilians... as the Italian ends speculation he was set to become the new Selecao boss by extending his contract at the Bernabeu
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- Ancelotti is in his second spell as Real manager having led them from 2013-15
- There had been suggestions he would leave the club to become Brazil boss
- Eddie Howe is crying out for help in the transfer market with Liverpool, Sunderland, Man City and Aston Villa to come - It's All Kicking Off
For some time now Carlo Ancelotti has realised that in order to coach the best Brazilians, he doesn't actually need to leave Real Madrid.
Vinicius 23, Rodrygo, 22, and 17-year-old Endrick - who will arrive at the end of this season - could be Real Madrid's front three for the next five years and Ancelotti's contract extension means he will be at the club to guide them at least until 2026.
His two-year contract extension is also an illustration of the way, arguably the biggest club in the world, realise there is no one better prepared to take them forward than the 64-year-old Italian.
Ancelotti's prints are on every aspect of the current side and with Xabi Alonso unwilling to start thinking about his next job while still in the process of trying to make history at Bayer Leverkusen the sensible thing was to stick with the same safe pair of hands going forward.
It is under Ancelotti that Vinicius has gone from a three goals a season striker to one capable of scoring 20. Zinedine Zidane had a lack of belief in the Brazilian that he found hard to hide and it is since Ancelotti replaced him that Vini has really thrived.
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Vinicius' compatriot Rodrygo was publicly chastised by Ancelotti for not offering him his hand after being taken off in a game last January but the huge respect in which Ancelotti is held by him meant that Rodrygo soon apologised.
He started this season badly but has recovered to score seven league goals and he has dedicated his recent form to his mentor who he says never lost faith in him after he went two months without a league goal.
Both Brazilians were keen for Ancelotti to become their national team coach and made no secret of it but for them it's better still that he remains their club coach at least until the 2026 World Cup.
Behind the Brazilians Real Madrid have Jude Bellingham operating at the top of a midfield diamond crafted by Ancelotti when he was told he was not getting a new striker in the summer.
Bellingham has said many times that his incredible numbers this season are down in part to the man in charge creating a system that suits him perfectly - he's never been in the box more, so little wonder he has already topped last season's Bundesliga numbers.
Real Madrid's policy of building a team around youth needs a reliable custodian and just as Ancelotti has worked his magic with Bellingham, Rodrygo and Vinicius so he is now entrusted to do the same with Endrick who arrives this summer when he will have just turned 18.
It remains to be seen if he comes alone or with Kylian Mbappe also arriving. The fact that the French forward is no longer be-in-all-end-all could see him drop his financial demands and move to the Spanish capital.
It could also mean he passes forever on the chance to swap Paris Saint-Germain for Madrid - either way Ancelotti is the man to deal with the situation.
And it's not just the younger players that Ancelotti is regarded as best at dealing with. This has been a difficult time for Luka Modric and for Toni Kroos as they see younger midfield options slowly but surely become more important in the club's thinking.
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Modric in particular struggled at the earlier part of the season to get minutes from the start of games but once more the excellent player-coach relationship has served to iron out problems before they could put a crimp in Madrid's season.
His renewal does not necessarily spell the end of his chances of taking over the Brazil job. As the 2026 World Cup approaches the opportunity may arise again. If it doesn't Ancelotti is not going to regret not taking it now with a difficult Copa America on the horizon.
Madrid could still turn to Alonso but they don't need to rush their former player who has so far been adamant about not even considering an alternative beyond Bayer Leverkusen.
The German club have never won the Bundesliga and if they are to do it in a season when their squad is likely to be most hit by Africa Cup of Nations call-ups then it is going to require all his concentration.
For the moment Alonso - one of Ancelotti's pupils p remains in Germany and Carleto remains at the helm of Real Madrid.
Any other course of action just made no sense to neither club nor coach.
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