Ancelotti Names Brazil Squad Without Neymar For World Cup Qualifiers

Carlo Ancelotti has begun his tenure as the manager of the Brazilian national team with a focus on preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, having named his first squad for the South American qualifiers. Ancelotti, known for managing many Brazilian stars over his career, praised Ronaldo Nazário as the best Brazilian player he has coached and highlighted the professionalism and humility of current Brazilian players like Cafú and Vinícius Júnior. The new squad notably excludes Neymar due to injury, but Ancelotti affirmed the player's future importance to the team. Among the new call-ups is defender Alexsandro, who plays for Lille in France and has gained attention despite being relatively unknown in Brazil, having developed his career primarily in Europe. Additionally, several standout foreign players in the Brazilian league have been noted as potential national team candidates, underscoring Ancelotti's broad scouting approach. Meanwhile, Milan is reportedly interested in Chelsea's English winger Noni Madueke as they look to strengthen their attack, although the high transfer fee presents a challenge.