Latest news with #ViniciusJr
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Ancelotti pledges to make struggling Brazil 'world champions again'
Carlo Ancelotti on Monday ruled injury-plagued Neymar out from Brazil's line-up for upcoming World Cup qualifiers and vowed to lead the team to a sixth title on his first day as Selecao coach. Former Real Madrid manager Ancelotti is the first non-Brazilian in six decades to coach the record five-time World Cup winners. "I'm very proud to lead the best team in the world. I have a big job ahead of me and have great hope that Brazil will become champions again," he said during his official presentation at a hotel in Rio de Janeiro. "The only goal is to win the 2026 World Cup," he said after receiving a green-and-yellow coach's jacket from Luiz Felipe Scolari, the manager who took Brazil to its last World Cup win in 2002. At 65, the Italian star manager, who has five Champions League titles under his belt, is taking the reins of a national team for the first time. Expectations are high in football-mad Brazil that he can revive the squad's fortunes. To that end, he announced the return of Manchester United midfielder and former Brazil captain Casemiro for June's qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay, alongside Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr and Barcelona winger Raphinha. Ancelotti is Brazil's fourth coach in two years, and he faces a formidable task. "Brazil was sort of decaying and needed that little light at the end of the tunnel. I think he is that light," said Jose Geraldo Da Silva, a 65-year-old retiree, who was waiting outside the Rio hotel to try catch a glimpse of the new trainer. Brazil has struggled for form in 2026 World Cup qualifying and sacked Dorival Junior in March after a humiliating 4-1 thrashing by regional arch-rivals Argentina. Ancelotti will cut his teeth on June 5 against Ecuador in Guayaquil and then on the 10th will host Paraguay in Sao Paulo. While ruling out Neymar for the fixtures, Ancelotti said that "obviously we're counting on him" for the future. In his last game for Brazil in October 2023, which ended in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay, Neymar suffered a serious knee injury and has not worn his country's colors since then. Casemiro, 33, who has also not been called up since October 2023, did receive the nod to return, by contrast. Speaking in Spanish peppered with a few words of Portuguese, which he promised to quickly learn, Ancelotti said Casemiro would bring "charisma, personality and talent." New wunderkind Estevao, 18, who is set to join Chelsea from Sao Paulo's Palmeiras, was also called up. But injured Real Madrid forwards Rodrygo and Endrick did not make the list. Brazil is currently languishing in fourth place in the South American qualifying table for next year's tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The national football federation (CBF) spent two years wooing Ancelotti to try turn the page on years of disappointment for the national side and its fans. The Selecao have only made it as far as the World Cup semi-final once out of the last five tournaments -- in 2014 against Germany, who gave the World Cup hosts an historic 7-1 thrashing on home soil. Ancelotti's arrival also coincides with a period of turbulence for the CBF itself. On Sunday, it elected a new president, Samir Xaud, after the previous boss, Ednaldo Rodrigues was dismissed by a court over suspicions of forgery in his employment contract. "May Christ the Redeemer (Rio's landmark monument) bless the arrival of our Mr Carlo Ancelotti, so that he can secure... a highly coveted sixth world title," Xaud said by way of welcome to Ancelotti, to whom he vowed "total autonomy." Ancelotti's new role comes with a pay package of around 10 million euros ($11.4 million) a year, according to local media.
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
Ancelotti pledges to make struggling Brazil 'champion again'
Carlo Ancelotti on Monday ruled injury-plagued Neymar out from Brazil's line-up for upcoming World Cup qualifiers and vowed to lead the team to a sixth title on his first day as Selecao coach. Former Real Madrid manager Ancelotti is the first non-Brazilian in six decades to coach the record five-time World Cup winners. "I'm very proud to lead the best team in the world. I have a big job ahead of me and have great hope that Brazil will become champion again," he said during his official presentation at a hotel in Rio de Janeiro. "The only goal is to win the 2026 World Cup," he said after receiving a green-and-yellow coach's jacket from Luiz Felipe Scolari, the manager who took Brazil to its last World Cup win in 2002. At 65, the Italian star manager, who has five Champions League titles under his belt, is taking the reins of a national team for the first time. Expectations are high in football-mad Brazil that he can revive the squad's fortunes. To that end, he announced the return of Manchester United midfielder and former Brazil captain Casemiro for June's qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay, alongside Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. and Barcelona winger Raphinha. Formidable task Ancelotti is Brazil's fourth coach in two years, and he faces a formidable task. "Brazil was sort of decaying and needed that little light at the end of the tunnel. I think he is that light," said Jose Geraldo Da Silva, a 65-year-old retiree, who was waiting outside the Rio hotel to try catch a glimpse of the new trainer. Brazil has struggled for form in 2026 World Cup qualifying and sacked Dorival Junior in March after a humiliating 4-1 thrashing by regional archrival Argentina. Ancelotti will cut his teeth on June 5 against Ecuador in Guayaquil and then on the 10th will host Paraguay in Sao Paulo. While ruling out Neymar for the fixtures, Ancelotti said that "obviously we're counting on him" for the future. In his last game for Brazil in October 2023, which ended in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay, Neymar suffered a serious knee injury and has not worn his country's colors since then. Casemiro, 33, who has also not been called up since October 2023, did receive the nod to return, by contrast. Speaking in Spanish peppered with a few words of Portuguese, which he promised to quickly learn, Ancelotti said Casemiro would bring "charisma, personality and talent." New wunderkind Estevao, 18, who is set to join Chelsea from Sao Paulo's Palmeiras, was also called up. But injured Real Madrid forwards Rodrygo and Endrick did not make the list. Turbulence Brazil is currently languishing in fourth place in the South American qualifying table for next year's tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The national football federation (CBF) spent two years wooing Ancelotti to try turn the page on years of disappointment for the national side and its fans. The Selecao have only made it as far as the World Cup semifinals once out of the last five tournaments — in 2014 against Germany, who gave the World Cup hosts an historic 7-1 thrashing on home soil. Ancelotti's arrival also coincides with a period of turbulence for the CBF itself. On Sunday, it elected a new president, Samir Xaud, after the previous boss, Ednaldo Rodrigues, was dismissed by a court over suspicions of forgery in his employment contract. "May Christ the Redeemer (Rio's landmark monument) bless the arrival of our Mr. Carlo Ancelotti, so that he can secure ... a highly coveted sixth world title," Xaud said by way of welcome to Ancelotti, to whom he vowed "total autonomy." Ancelotti's new role comes with a pay package of around €10 million ($11.4 million) a year, according to local media.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Five guilty of hate crime for racist abuse of Vinicius Jr
Vinicius Jr of Real Madrid Photo: PHOTOSPORT Five people were handed prison sentences for racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr during a match in a landmark first ruling in Spain that condemned racist insults in a football stadium as a hate crime, LaLiga said on Wednesday (local time). In December 2022, Brazil international Vinicius appeared to be subjected to abuse in Real's 2-0 win away to Real Valladolid as he walked past fans after being substituted at the Jose Zorrilla stadium. The Provincial Court of Valladolid imposed on the five offenders a year in prison and fines ranging from 1080 euros (NZ$2000) to 1620 euros (NZ$3000). The prison sentences were suspended on condition that they do not commit any offence in the next three years, while they are also not allowed to attend any matches in the same period. "Thanks to the efforts of LaLiga, which filed the complaint and initially acted as the sole private prosecution - later joined by the player Vinicius and Real Madrid, as well as the Public Prosecutor's Office - this exemplary ruling has been achieved," LaLiga said in a statement. "This judicial decision represents an unprecedented milestone in the fight against racism in sport in Spain, where, until now, rulings had addressed conduct against moral integrity with a racial aggravating factor. "The fact that this ruling explicitly refers to hate crimes associated with racist insults reinforces the message that intolerance has no place in football." Prison sentences of less than two years for non-violent crimes in Spain rarely require a defendant without previous convictions to serve jail time. In June last year, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for insulting Vinicius with "shouts, gestures and chants referring to the colour of his skin". In September, a fan who racially abused Vinicius and Villarreal player Samuel Chukwueze in two games at Mallorca in 2023 was found guilty and handed a suspended prison sentence. The aggressor had a 12-month sentence suspended after apologising in a letter to Vinicius and undergoing anti-discrimination training but was also banned from stadiums for three years. -Reuters
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Real Madrid's Endrick could miss Club World Cup with hamstring injury
Real Madrid forward Endrick suffered a hamstring injury during its 2-0 victory over Sevilla, the LaLiga club said on Wednesday, in the latest injury blow to the team. Real did not provide a timeline for the player's return, but Spanish media reported the Brazil international could be sidelined for at least two months, forcing him out of the Club World Cup in the United States. 'Following tests carried out today on our player Endrick by Real Madrid's medical services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the hamstring tendon in his right leg. He will be monitored closely,' Real said in a statement. ALSO READ | Five people handed prison sentences for racially abusing Vinicius Jr: La Liga The 18-year-old will also miss Brazil's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay. Endrick adds to Real's growing injury list, which already includes Vinicius Junior, Lucas Vazquez, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Eduardo Camavinga, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy and David Alaba. Real hosts Real Sociedad in its final LaLiga game of the season on Saturday before kicking off its Club World Cup campaign against Al-Hilal next month.
Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Arsenal ‘open talks over Real Madrid star Rodrygo as they join Chelsea in transfer race for unhappy Brazilian'
Rodrygo is thought to be unhappy at Real Madrid HOT ROD Arsenal 'open talks over Real Madrid star Rodrygo as they join Chelsea in transfer race for unhappy Brazilian' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ARSENAL are keen on signing Real Madrid winger Rodrygo as they look to bolster their attacking options, according to reports. The Gunners are prepping for a big summer after falling short of the Premier League title for a third consecutive season. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Arsenal are reportedly keen on signing Rodrygo from Real Madrid Credit: Getty Now Sky Germany are claiming that Arsenal are "seriously considering" signing Rodrygo to help them take the next step. It's claimed that the deal is "difficult", but that the North Londoners are exploring the options to get it done. While it has also been reported that talks have begun behind the scenes. Rodrygo, 24, is thought to be keen on an exit from the Bernabeu after shock reports claimed he has refused to play for Madrid after a rift with his teammates. Bombshell reports from Spanish outlet Marca claim the winger feels "displaced" at Real Madrid. It's been suggested that Rodrygo is hoping to be the main man, something he has been unable to do in the shadow of the likes of Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe - causing a "rift" between the stars. Arsenal and Mikel Arteta could offer the Brazilian a starring role at the Emirates Stadium next season. The Gunners are searching for a new left winger to provide competition for Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli. While they are desperate for goalscorers after struggling in front of goal in the biggest moments this term. Rodrygo has scored six goals in 30 La Liga appearances this term. While Martinelli and Trossard have both found the back of the net eight time each in the Premier League this season. MORE TO FOLLOW... THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
