A new direction for Brazil
Carlo Ancelotti addressed the media after Brazil's early World Cup exit, confirming that Neymar, Casemiro and Danilo will no longer feature in the national team's plans. The coach framed the moves as part of a broader strategy to refresh the squad ahead of the 2028 Copa America, a competition Brazil has not won since 2019.
Neymar's international retirement was already settled, but the announcements about Casemiro and Danilo left fans wondering whether the two veterans would hang up their Brazil shirts. Both players have yet to issue formal retirements, leaving a degree of uncertainty that Ancelotti chose to acknowledge without elaborating on potential replacements.
The coach stressed that the upcoming tournament would serve as a laboratory for younger talent, while still preserving a thread of experience through players like Marquinhos. "We want to build a team that can compete in 2028 and also look ahead to the 2030 World Cup," Ancelotti said, underlining the dual‑purpose nature of the transition.
Rumors linking Ancelotti to the Italian national team surfaced after the Italian Soccer Federation approached him, but the Brazilian coach dismissed any notion of a switch. He reaffirmed his commitment to Brazil, stating that his focus remains on shaping the national side for the next cycle.