FLAMENGO IDOL, ZICO REVEALS TO ADRIANO HOW HE ALMOST TOOK HIM TO PLAY IN Türkiye

The Brazilian Football Confederation ( CBF ) has reached an agreement with Carlo Ancelotti, who will be the next coach of the Brazilian National Team. The Real Madrid coach is preparing to leave the Spanish club , with the official announcement expected after the classic against Barcelona, scheduled for next Sunday (11). The expectation is that the Italian will already be in charge of the national team in the June matches for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

The negotiations were being handled discreetly and responsibly, as Rodrigo Caetano, CBF's director of national teams, stated in a recent interview . According to the director, the process was in its final phase and close to a conclusion. With the agreement in place, the organization is now focusing its efforts on the transition and beginning work aimed at qualifying for the World Cup.

BRAZILIAN NATIONAL TEAM DEBUTS WITH ANCELOTTI

The Brazilian National Team will return to the field in June for official matches. The first challenge will be on the 5th, against Ecuador, in Guayaquil. Then, on the 10th, Brazil will face Paraguay, at the Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo . The team is currently in fourth place in the Qualifiers, with 21 points. Ancelotti's arrival represents a bet by the CBF on international experience to boost the team's performance towards the 2026 World Cup.

With Ancelotti's confirmation, speculation about other names that were considered for the position has ceased. Among them, Jorge Jesus was close to an agreement during the CBF's period of uncertainty. The Portuguese coach, who had a remarkable stint in Brazilian football , is now free on the market and could be approached by clubs interested in his work.

FLAMENGO ENTERS THE FIELD FOR THE LIBERTADORES

While the National Team awaits the new commander, Flamengo is preparing for an important match this Wednesday (07) , against Central Córdoba, at 9:30 pm, for the fourth round of the group stage of the Libertadores. The match will be played at the Único Madre de Ciudades Stadium, in Argentina.

Congresswoman Daniela do Waguinho (União Brasil-RJ) filed a request with the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to remove CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues . The discussion is in the same Supreme Court process reported by Minister Gilmar Mendes who returned Ednaldo to office in January 2024, thanks to a preliminary injunction.

The congresswoman's argument is based on the claim that there was a forged signature in the most recent agreement involving CBF leaders, which is crucial for the political stability of the organization. The suspicion is directed at the signature of Colonel Nunes, former interim president of the CBF and one of the vice presidents in the last term. To date, the CBF has not commented on the case.

IMPORTANCE OF SIGNATURE

The parliamentarian even took to the STF an expert report already used by Rio councilor Marcos Silva (Podemos) , in a complaint about the same fact made to the Rio Public Ministry (MP-RJ), this week.

Nunes is one of those who reached an agreement in the Rio de Janeiro courts in the process that gave rise to the entire discussion about the validity of Ednaldo Rodrigues' first election, in 2022.

As Colonel Nunes and other officials (Fernando Sarney, Rogério Caboclo, Castellar Neto, Gustavo Feijó and the Minas Gerais Football Federation) reached a consensus with Ednaldo's CBF — according to a document signed by all of them — the fight was considered over at the STF.

NUNES HEALTH

At first. However, suspicions arose about the Colonel's health conditions to sign the document . The root of the issue is a report by Jorge Pagura, a neurosurgeon who operated on Nunes and is treating the leader for a brain tumor. Pagura is also the president of the CBF medical committee.

In 2023, the doctor pointed out that Nunes had a cognitive deficit , after undergoing a surgery considered aggressive. Pagura's report was used in a lawsuit, in Pará, to stop the deduction of alimony from the Colonel's retirement.

Federation leaders who frequent the CBF know that Colonel Nunes' health situation is not simple. According to information from UOL, which spoke to some in recent days, the last time Nunes was seen at a CBF event was at Brazil x Bolivia, for the Qualifiers , in Belém, in 2023. He was already in a wheelchair.

Real Madrid and Arsenal face each other this Wednesday (16), at 4 pm (Brasília time), at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, in Madrid, for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. The winning team will secure a place in the semi-finals and will face Paris Saint-Germain, already qualified after eliminating Borussia Dortmund.

The first duel between the teams, played in London, ended in a draw, leaving everything open for the second clash. The game will be broadcast live with images through the Max streaming platform.

REAL MADRID HAS IMPORTANT MISSING PLAYERS

Carlo Ancelotti's team arrives in high spirits after defeating Alavés 1-0 in a match valid for the 31st round of La Liga. The only goal was scored by Camavinga, who, however, is suspended for the duel against the English team after being sent off in the first leg. Another highlight of the match was Mbappé, who received a straight red card for a hard foul - his first since 2019.

For the clash against Arsenal , the Italian coach will also be without Lunin, the reserve goalkeeper, who is still recovering from a muscle injury. Militão, Mendy and Camavinga complete the list of absentees. The good news is the return of Ceballos, who has recovered and is available for the squad.

ARSENAL FACES INJURY CHALLENGES

On the English side, Arsenal arrive after a 1-1 draw against Brentford, in the 32nd round of the Premier League. Coach Mikel Arteta will have difficulty in putting together the starting team, with several players out due to injury. Jorginho, monitored by Flamengo , suffered a fall in the last match and was ruled out by the medical department.

In addition to him, names such as Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Tomiyasu, Gabriel Magalhães and Calafiori are also out of the clash in Madrid. Even so, the Gunners are looking for a historic qualification, betting on the youth of the squad and the good form of athletes such as Saka and Martinelli.

CHECK OUT THE PROBABLE LINEUPS

Real Madrid are expected to field: Courtois, Lucas Vázquez, Asencio, Rüdiger and Fran García; Valverde and Tchouaméni; Rodrygo, Bellingham and Vini Jr.; Mbappé. Coach Carlo Ancelotti is looking to lead his team to the 33rd Champions League semi-final in the club's history.

Arsenal should start with : David Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior and Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Declan Rice and Jorginho (if fit); Saka, Merino and Martinelli. Mikel Arteta will hope to overcome the absences and surprise away from home.