Carlo Ancelotti left Real Madrid and immediately took charge of the Brazil national team, where he will continue to work closely with several Madrid players.
During the upcoming international break, Brazil will face Chile and Bolivia in World Cup qualifiers under the guidance of their new manager, a man the federation had been chasing for years and who is now entrusted with bringing the coveted trophy back to its rightful home.
For that mission, Real Madrid stars like Vinicius Jr, Eder Militao, and Rodrygo are expected to be central.
Yet Ancelotti has reportedly decided not to call any of them for the September qualifiers, a move that in many ways benefits Madrid.
Real Madrid trio snubbed by Carlo Ancelotti for international break
According to TNT Sports, Ancelotti has now decided to leave Rodrygo out of the squad after already excluding Vinicius and Militao.
In Militao’s case, the manager wants to give the defender more time to fully recover from his long-term injury.
He is determined not to overload the centre-back and risk another setback. Militao finally looks close to being back in form, but minutes must be managed carefully, and Ancelotti’s decision is welcome in that regard.
As for Vinicius Jr, he is already suspended for one qualifier, so calling him up for just a single game makes little sense.
Brazil can handle that match with other forwards, and resting Vinicius will only help him return sharper for Madrid.
Both Militao and Vinicius are expected to play crucial roles in Ancelotti’s World Cup plans, so some early-season caution is natural.
Their staying back in Madrid is a net positive for Los Merengues, who need them fully fit for a season where trophies are the demand.
Rodrygo’s omission is less clear. Whether it is simply to give him rest or due to recent form concerns remains uncertain, but given Ancelotti’s long-standing trust in the forward, the former seems far more likely.