Carlo Ancelotti is not a name West Ham United fans would have expected to see pop up amidst their summer plans after a poor Premier League campaign.
And, no, Graham Potter’s job is not under any threat from one of the most successful managers in football history.
Carlo Ancelotti won’t be returning to English football any time soon. The former Chelsea and Everton coach was announced as the new boss of Brazil earlier this month; Arguably the greatest and most high-profile challenge of his career, and that’s saying something.
But it is in his new role – Ancelotti embracing international football for the first time in his long career – where the five-time Champions League winning tactician could help West Ham United bring in the sort of centre-forward they have been waiting for.
It is no secret that West Ham are big fans of Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto.
The Brazil international’s agent confirmed the Hammers’ interest only a few weeks ago. This is a link which can be traced back years, with Corinthians admitting back in 2023 that they had rejected a £15 million bid from the Premier League outfit.
But thanks in part to a contract with only two years left to run and also Ancelotti’s first few acts as the Selecao chief, a deal now feels more achievable than ever.
Photo by Marco Galvao/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images
Photo by Marco Galvao/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images
Carlo Ancelotti aids West Ham United’s Yuri Alberto pursuit
TBR Football reports that Corinthians might now accept a bid in the region of the £15 million offer they turned down two years ago.
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Yuri Alberto has made no secret of his desire to cross the Atlantic at some point in the near future, meanwhile.
A desire which may have been strengthened further when the former Zenit St Petersburg man discovered that he would not be part of Ancelotti’s first Brazil roster for June’s World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.
“Unfortunately, I’m not on the shortlist,” he told the media this week. “But I won’t stop working to [gain] the next call-up. It’s okay.
“Ancelotti is a guy who has a lot to contribute to our team and to our players who will be defending our shirt. I have to keep giving my best.”
Considering that no Brazilian player has scored more goals than Yuri Alberto since the start of 2024 – including Barcelona talisman Raphinha – the reigning Golden Boot winner can consider himself to be very unfortunate indeed.
Yuri Alberto would benefit from a Premier League switch
Ancelotti will officially name his first Brazil squad on Monday.
He will doubtless be asked about Yuri Alberto’s lack of involvement. The obvious explanation would be that maybe Ancelotti is willing to give more of an opportunity to those based in Europe, amid questions over the genuine strength of domestic Brazilian football.
If a host of other home-based players are omitted alongside the Corinthians number nine, that would go a long way to explaining his absence.
Either way, it certainly feels that if Yuri Alberto wants to establish himself as a member of Ancelotti’s Brazil squad – let alone his nation’s starting number nine – then a move to a more high-profile, more competitive competition would do his reputation no harm at all.
Provided he can replicate that Golden Boot-winning form on European soil, of course.