Carlo Ancelotti was officially announced as coach of the Brazilian team in May, but some details about the negotiation and the arrival of the Italian coach to Brazil were revealed this Tuesday (23).
In an interview with the British newspaper Daily Mailbusinessman Diego Fernandes, who mediated the process, revealed that he used some strategies to bring Ancelotti closer to the country.
On the flight that brought him to the presentation in Rio de Janeiro, at the CBF headquarters, Carlo arrived very close to Christ the Redeemer and admired one of the wonders of the modern world.
Before finally landing in the negotiations, he watched a video full of references to Brazil, to the sound of Baianá, a song by the band Barbatuques and with images of former player Zico.
Fernandes says that this made him closer to the country. “When he watched the video, he started telling the story of Brazilian football to his wife, Mariann,” he recalled.
Ancelotti also recalled the moments as a player playing against Brazilian Zico, Flamengo’s idol.
“When Carlo was a young player at Roma, his coach told him: ‘Carlo, tomorrow you will play against Udinese and Zico’,” says Diego.
“Carlo told me he hadn’t slept all night. He said: ‘But for 85 minutes, I was marking him individually. I was the best on the pitch. Then, in a second, I lost sight of him. He took the ball to his chest and scored the winning goal’. That’s what Zico could do, in just a second.”
Ancelotti is the first foreign coach in the country’s history and is one of the most successful coaches in the history of world football.
However, the 65-year-old Italian has never lifted a national team trophy, but will have the chance to achieve that feat at the 2026 World Cup.
