A Carlo Ancelotti Real Madrid sighting still turns heads at Valdebebas, and on Thursday the most decorated coach in the club's history walked back through the door — this time in a Brazil tracksuit. Ancelotti, now the Selecao's head coach, returned to the training ground on the eve of Jose Mourinho's side travelling to Real Betis, greeting the squad before the session began.
He did not stay for the sentiment alone. As Marca report, the Italian spent much of his visit watching three players in particular: Endrick, Rodrygo and Eder Militao, all of them working away from the main group as they complete their recoveries.
The Carlo Ancelotti Real Madrid reunion had a purpose
This was not a nostalgia trip. Those three are central to Ancelotti's plans with Brazil, and with the next international break only weeks away, he wanted to see the state of their injuries for himself rather than rely on a fitness report sent by email.
The frustration is familiar to him. At the last World Cup — where, per Marca, Brazil went out in the round of 16 to Norway — Ancelotti could call on Endrick but not Rodrygo or Militao, both of whom were serving long-term absences that have still not fully cleared. Rodrygo has only recently been seen running again at Valdebebas, while Militao is working back from a hamstring operation.
Mourinho and Ancelotti: a line that stays open
The relationship between the current Bernabeu dugout and its most successful former occupant is unusually warm, and Mourinho has said as much publicly. Asked a fortnight ago about Endrick's international prospects, the Portuguese was almost gleeful about the arrangement.
"I'm not sure he'll make Ancelotti's first squad," Mourinho said, "but given that I have one of my great friends as the coach of players of mine, it's a big advantage. Carlo will call me directly."
For a club that has spent years negotiating with national teams over the workload of its Brazilian contingent, a manager-to-manager hotline is worth more than any protocol. Ancelotti's visit was the physical version of that phone call — and a reminder that, for all the trophies he lifted here, his interest in this dressing room is now professional rather than sentimental.
Seven absent for La Cartuja
The timing is not accidental either, because Mourinho's treatment room is busy. Marca count seven unavailable for Friday's trip to Seville: Aurelien Tchouameni, Raul Asencio, Ferland Mendy and Thiago Pitarch, plus the three Brazilians Ancelotti came to inspect.
Tchouameni's absence stings twice. Beyond the Betis squad list, Marca note that Madrid also face next Tuesday's Champions League opener without Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Guler through suspension — leaving Mourinho short in exactly the area he can least afford it. The Frenchman's recovery plan has been managed carefully since pre-season.
Los Blancos kick off against Betis at La Cartuja on Friday at 21:00 CEST (20:00 BST) in matchday four, with a perfect nine points from nine already banked and both Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe in form after the 4-0 win over Malaga. Mourinho, speaking at the same Thursday press conference, warned that it "has to be a great Real Madrid" to win in Seville.
Ancelotti, for one afternoon at least, got to watch it all from the inside again. No Madridista will have minded the sight one bit.
