The raging debate in Brazil about whether their famed national team should depend on a foreign manager on a full-time basis for the first time in their history after the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti was announced reached fever pitch on Friday, with two of the nation’s most prominent figures sharing differing opinions on the issue.

Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to become the first foreigner in almost 60 years to coach Brazil's national team the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Tuesday.

Ancelotti has a season remaining on his contract with Real and will take over Brazil in time for the Copa America which will be held in the United States from June 2024

Brazil star Neymar welcomed the idea of having a foreign coach for the Selecao with speculations floating around current Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti being tipped to take charge after his contract with the Los Blancos expires.

Spanish international Jose Luis Mato, known as Joselu, said Tuesday it was a "dream" come true to return to Real Madrid, 11 years after he left.

Ancelotti has been on the top of Brazil’s wishlist to succeed Tite, who left the managerial post after the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Since then, the Selecao have been operating with Ramon Menezes as the interim boss while pursuing the appointment of the Real Madrid boss.

Rodrigues said he would also approach the Spanish club's president Florentino Perez and described Ancelotti as their first choice to replace Tite, who left the Brazil team after their quarter-final exit at the World Cup in Qatar in November

Karim Benzema's decision to leave Real Madrid after 14 trophy-laden years was a surprise, manager Carlo Ancelotti said, but insisted that the Ballon d'Or winner has earned the right to choose.

Ancelotti said Benzema's choice came by surprise, after the Italian himself said Saturday he expected the forward to stay. "I have coached one of the best in the world, not a forward, a complete footballer," said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti

"Benzema is ready to play tomorrow (against Athletic Bilbao in the final league game of the season), he has recovered very well, he has a year on his contract, so we have no doubts here," Ancelotti told a news conference

Vinicius Junior subjected to racial abuse last weekend will miss a second successive match due to a knee problem Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday.

"I don't think (he will leave Spain), because he loves football and he loves Real Madrid. His love for the club is very big and he wants to make his career here," Ancelotti told a news conference.

Carlo Ancelotti ended any doubt about his immediate future on Saturday by saying he will honour the last year of his contract with Real Madrid amid interest from Brazil.

City, who were beaten by Real at the same stage last season, avenged that heartbreaking defeat with a brilliant performance in front of their jubilant fans, with only Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois preventing them inflicting even more damage

It's not an exaggeration to suggest that tonight's Champions League semifinal second leg against defending champions Real Madrid is the biggest game in Manchester City's recent history.

"We competed, we fought, I think we deserved to win. It was a good match and we head to the second leg with a good feeling. The result doesn't reward us for what we did on the pitch, but this tie will be close until the last minute," Ancelotti told Movistar Plus.

After beating Real Madrid 4-3 in a thriller in the first-leg last year in Manchester, City saw the Spanish giants fight back from the brink of elimination to beat them 3-1 after extra time and get to the final.

"This Copa arrived at an important moment, we came through very tricky ties, it's a deserved prize against strong opponents," added the coach

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti thinks the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna on Saturday could be his last -- although he has thought the same in the past and been wrong, he explained Friday.

"In sport you can't talk about failure, in life you can't talk about failure. Failure is only when you don't try to do something the best that you can, that is failure," Ancelotti said.