By Adegboyega Adeleye
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that veteran trio Neymar, Casemiro and Danilo are no longer part of the Selecao’s plans as he begins rebuilding the national team around a younger generation ahead of the 2028 Copa America, according to Reuters.
Speaking in an interview with Brazilian outlet ge (Globo Esporte), Ancelotti said Brazil’s disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign marked the end of an era for several of the country’s most influential players.
“I think this World Cup marks the end of a generation of very important players. Starting with Neymar, going through Danilo, Casemiro, all those players who were over 30 years old at the World Cup,” Ancelotti said in the interview, as quoted by Reuters.
Neymar, 34, announced his retirement from international football following Brazil’s round-of-16 defeat to Norway at the World Cup, while Casemiro, 34, and Danilo, 35, have yet to officially retire from national team duty.
Ancelotti said his immediate priority is building a squad capable of challenging for the 2028 Copa America, rather than waiting until the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
“We are going to map out new players who can enter. I’m not saying for the next World Cup in 2030, but who can already be competitive in the first objective, which is the Copa America in 2028,” he said.
The former Real Madrid manager stressed that not every experienced player would be discarded, pointing to captain Marquinhos as someone expected to provide leadership during the transition.
“I’m not going to replace all 26 players. We’re going to keep some important players who can continue the work, like Marquinhos. But the idea is to change, to bring in a new generation,” he added.
Brazil, who have reached the World Cup semi-finals only once since winning their fifth title in 2002 and have not lifted the Copa America since 2019, will begin the next phase of their rebuild with two international friendlies against Australia in September.
Ancelotti also confirmed that the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) contacted him over the vacant Italy coaching position following the Azzurri’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. However, he insisted he never considered leaving Brazil.
“There was simply contact from the federation, but it’s not a contract issue, it’s a matter of commitment,” Ancelotti told ge, according to Reuters.
“I have a commitment to Brazil—not because I signed the contract, but because of the year I spent here. I was very well received, and I don’t want to break that commitment.”