Carlo Ancelotti has become the center of debate around Brazil’s national team, especially because of his handling of Neymar’s situation. While some argue Neymar should not have been called up at all, others believe he should already be excluded now. The columnist acknowledges those objections but says Ancelotti has the right to follow his own convictions, particularly if his approach to managing the crisis ultimately helps Brazil win the World Cup.
The article says the Brazilian Football Confederation, CBF, waited for Neymar to arrive at Granja Comary before taking action, in order to avoid interfering with Santos’ jurisdiction. Santos had described the player’s injury as merely an edema, but the CBF believed the issue was more serious. Once Neymar arrived, the federation sent him for medical testing and confirmed the severity of the injury. Rather than holding a traditional press conference, the CBF issued a statement, apparently to avoid direct confrontation. The text suggests that a press conference would have been better for transparency, but not necessarily for crisis management.
Ancelotti is described as a coach who trains the team while keeping Neymar at a distance. The article compares this attitude to his past relationship with Rivaldo. In his book “O Sonho,” Ancelotti wrote that Rivaldo was the only Brazilian player with whom he had a real problem. According to the account, Rivaldo was told by Ancelotti that he would not play in one match. He did not like the decision. Later, he was told he would play the next match, but he was surprised to find out he would also remain on the bench.
The piece presents Ancelotti as someone who makes firm decisions, even when they are unpopular, and suggests that this trait may define his management of Neymar as well. The underlying tension is between transparency and control, between public explanation and internal authority. The article implies that Ancelotti prefers to manage matters within the team rather than through public debate.
Overall, the text frames the Neymar issue as both a medical and political challenge for Brazil. It highlights the CBF’s careful handling of the injury, Ancelotti’s distance from Neymar, and the possibility that the coach is prioritizing his own method over public expectations. Whether that strategy succeeds may depend on the national team’s results on the field, especially in the pursuit of a World Cup title.
