A new era for Brazil begins in the heart of Corinthians turmoil | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti spent Sunday evening at the Neo Química Arena, taking in Corinthians’ home clash with Vitória as he prepares to start his first training sessions in charge of Brazil’s national team. The Italian manager, on the eve of his debut on the training ground with the Seleção, used the occasion to observe domestic football up close and further integrate himself with the Brazilian game.

Ancelotti watched the match from a private box, joined by Brazil’s national team coordinator Rodrigo Caetano and other staff. Before kick-off, the coach was welcomed by Corinthians’ interim president Osmar Stabile, who presented him with an official Corinthians shirt. The gesture came during a week of considerable upheaval at the club, with Stabile stepping in as acting president following a contentious boardroom power struggle. Amid the club’s ongoing leadership crisis—marked by a police intervention and uncertainty around Augusto Melo's status as club president—Corinthians’ executive ranks have been in flux, making Ancelotti’s visit a notable moment of unity and institutional recognition.

The Italian’s presence in Itaquera is part of a broader effort to familiarize himself with the domestic scene, having attended Botafogo and Flamengo fixtures in the Libertadores earlier in the week. For this international window, Brazil’s first-team squad is gathering in São Paulo, with training sessions scheduled at Corinthians’ CT. The Seleção are preparing for a crucial World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador in Guayaquil on Thursday.

While Ancelotti’s main focus is with the national side, his interactions with Corinthians and other Brazilian clubs highlight both the symbolic importance of the national team’s connection to leading domestic institutions and the tactical opportunity to assess the domestic talent pool first-hand. Most of Brazil’s squad members arrived in São Paulo on Sunday, and the full group is expected to convene on Monday before beginning preparations at Corinthians’ facilities.

For Corinthians, Ancelotti’s attendance offered a brief respite from off-pitch distractions, with officials keen to ensure the club maintained its stature as a host for high-profile football events—even as it deals with regime change at the executive level. The club’s statement emphasized there was no alteration to its top leadership despite the political turmoil.

Ancelotti’s Brazilian journey continues with these in-person experiences, providing him with added context and contact as he takes charge of a squad under scrutiny. As national team preparations intensify, his ongoing engagement with major Brazilian clubs signals an intent to build local bridges and deepen his understanding of the environment he now leads.

Source: Globo, UOL