AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho has reportedly been shortlisted as an alternative to Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti in the search for the next coach of Brazil. 
The South American country’s national team still has no coach since Tite resigned from the post after the team’s loss to Croatia in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final. The Athletic reported that while Carlo Ancelotti remains the favourite to take the job, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has drafted Mourinho as an alternative if their attempt to appoint the Italian as the next coach is unsuccessful. It was also learnt that the CBF’s preferred candidate, Ancelotti, has requested to defer any meeting before the ongoing season ends. Ancelotti has a contract with Real Madrid until 2024 but he has a condition in his contract that he has to win at least one major trophy this season. Other candidates who have been shortlisted are Fenerbahce manager Jorge Jesus, Fluminense head coach Fernando Diniz, and Palmeiras’ Abel Ferreira.
ESPN Brazil reported early on Friday morning that Ancelotti had agreed to take over as Selecao’s head coach, starting in July 2023. Although nothing had been signed, the outlet claimed Ancelotti gave his verbal go-ahead to a three-year contract lasting until after the 2026 World Cup. Both Madrid and Ancelotti have denied the claim. Speaking at a press conference, the Real Madrid coach said; 
“I don’t know anything about this, I don’t even know what they reported in Brazil. I’m Real Madrid coach, my contract is until June 2024.” The Brazilian football federation also denied that any agreement had been reached, saying in a statement: “The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) informs that the news released this Friday that the coach of Real Madrid, Italian Carlo Ancelotti, is the new coach of the Brazilian national team is unfounded.”