Although VInicius Junior scored goals and took home Man of the Match honors several times in a great 2026 World Cup for Brazil as an individual, the Real Madrid superstar left winger understandably left the tournament feeling very frustratedas the Selecao were unable to get past Erling Haaland and Norway in the Round of 16. Even though Vini played very well, his team were totally outclassed, and Vini left the World Cup feeling incredibly down about everything.
Although VInicius Junior scored goals and took home Man of the Match honors several times in a great 2026 World Cup for Brazil as an individual, the Real Madrid superstar left winger understandably left the tournament feeling very frustratedas the Selecao were unable to get past Erling Haaland and Norway in the Round of 16. Even though Vini played very well, his team were totally outclassed, and Vini left the World Cup feeling incredibly down about everything.
Jose Mourinho has since spoken to him and helped pick him up before what promises to be a very grueling 2026/27 season at Real Madrid after two straight campaigns with no trophies. But recently, VIni Jr. had a different worry back home with the Brazil national team.
New Italian national team sporting director and former AC Milan defensive legend Paolo Maldini openly admitted that the Azzurri reached out to Pep Guardiola and Brazil’s Carlo Ancelotti with interest in their management job.
Don Carlo is committed
Vinicius Junior and Carlo have an incredible relationship, as Vini’s true breakout to stardom came in the 2021/22 season under Carletto in the Italian manager’s first season. Both of Vini’s Champions League titles and his Ballon d’Or contention came with Ancelotti as his manager, and his first truly great tournament with Brazil this summer came with Ancelotti as well.
The reassuring news for Vinicius is that he will not have this additional worry. According to Brazilian media outlet Ge Globo, via Madrid Xtra, Carlo Ancelotti has rejected the approach from the Italian national team federation. He has no interest in leaving Brazil and he wants to stay with the Selecao.
Brazil are invested in Ancelotti in the long term, and Vinicius Junior is not the only Madridista for him to work with. Casemiro, Endrick, Eder Militao, and Rodryo Goes are key national team players with whom Ancelotti has had a relationship with at Real Madrid – and all of them but Case are currently in the Real Madrid squad for the 2026/27 season.
