A morning at Valdebebas
Carlo Ancelotti was back at Valdebebas on Thursday. The Brazil boss headed to Real Madrid’s training ground to check in on his internationals. He confirmed the visit himself on social media, calling it a productive morning’s work and a special moment with the Madrid family.
Real Madrid TV footage showed the rest. Ancelotti greeted Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Thibaut Courtois and Vinicius Jr. Players he managed for four seasons. The Italian left the club in the summer of 2025 after a disappointing campaign. Even so, his popularity has not shifted one bit.
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A routine stop for a national coach
In football terms, there is nothing unusual about it. A national coach checks on the fitness of his players before a camp. Ancelotti has several Brazilians in the Madrid squad. He checks their condition, speaks with the staff and leaves with his notes.
The optics tell a different story. Ancelotti still stands apart in the Spanish capital. The directors, players and fans continue to treat him like one of their own. Few coaches leave a club this big and walk back in a year later with no awkwardness on either side.
Real move on without him
Real Madrid, for their part, moved on a long time ago. Jose Mourinho now sits in the dugout and is preparing for the trip to Betis in LaLiga. The club is also juggling a string of hot issues, from dressing-room tensions to injuries.
Ancelotti has different priorities. He is building his Brazil squad and needs to make calls on each player’s condition. Thursday’s visit fitted that brief. Whether anyone at the club read more into it than that is another matter.
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