SAO PAULO — Brazil is hoping to have a new national team coach in place this month ahead of its next two World Cup qualifiers but fans are growing impatient as negotiations with Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti drag on.
Two sources at Brazil's soccer federation, CBF, confirmed to The Associated Press that negotiations with Ancelotti are ongoing but complicated by the fact that he has another season left on his Madrid contract. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the issue publicly.
One of them said the talks are led on the Brazil side by CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues and national team director Rodrigo Caetano.
''And they are keeping a lid on the negotiations. It is clear there's no done deal with anyone for now,'' he said.
He added that the federation "is not in a rush,'' while acknowledging that Brazil hopes to present a new coach before May 20 when it announces the squad for its next two World Cup qualifying matches in June.
Brazil has been without a coach since Dorival Júnior was fired on March 28, three days after a 4-1 loss to bitter rival Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Speculation about Ancelotti's departure from Madrid and a possible move to Brazil has grown during what has turned into a mediocre season for the Spanish powerhouse. It was eliminated by Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals, lost the Spanish cup final to Barcelona and is trailing the Catalan club by four points with five rounds remaining in the Spanish league.
Madrid has not commented on Ancelotti's future beyond noting that he has a contract with the club until the end of next season. For his part, the 65-year-old Italian has dodged questions about Brazil, saying he will remain with Madrid as long as the club president Florentino Pérez wants him to stay.
