🚨 BACKSTAGE: Jorge Jesus reached a verbal agreement with the Brazilian National Team before Ancelotti's hiring. The talks lasted more than 4 months, between the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. After the early elimination in the Copa América and the inconsistent performance of the team, Ednaldo Rodrigues, former president of CBF, matured the idea of dismissing Dorival Júnior. In December, two CBF officials traveled to Portugal and reached a VERBAL AGREEMENT with Jorge Jesus. The coach only requested to participate in the Asian Champions League with Al-Hilal. After Argentina's 4-1 thrashing of Brazil, CBF made new contact with JJ and REINFORCED the verbal agreement. It was decided that Jorge Jesus would replace Dorival. • POLITICAL PRESSURE CHANGES PLANS Ednaldo began to face pressure in a process that threatened his permanence at CBF. Desperate, the executive sought a significant popular appeal to gain political strength and expedited the coach's change. As Jorge Jesus could not leave Al-Hilal immediately, Ednaldo resumed discussions with Ancelotti. In poor form at Real Madrid, the Italian agreed to rebuild the frustrated agreement from 2023 but requested a few weeks before the announcement to avoid repercussions before the Copa del Rey final. • HASTY ANNOUNCEMENT CBF intended to announce Ancelotti after the end of LaLiga on May 24. However, pressured by the possibility of his process being judged at any moment, Ednaldo rushed into CBF’s headquarters and ORDERED Ancelotti's announcement on May 12, surprising even close officials and people from Real Madrid. Three days later, Ednaldo was removed from the presidency and did not return to the position nor personally received Ancelotti. Jorge Jesus, who never hid his frustration at being 'abandoned' by Ednaldo and wasting the dream of leading Brazil, took over Portugal after the 2026 World Cup. 🗞️ @ESPNBrasil | @pedroivoalmeida 📸 Portugal National Team | Rafael Ribeiro/CBF (translated)




