The Italian, who left Real Madrid at the end of last season to take over the Brazil national team, spent Thursday morning at the club’s Valdebebas training complex ahead of Friday’s trip to Seville, greeting José Mourinho and his former players before turning his attention to the three internationals he cannot yet call up.

Militão, Rodrygo and Endrick trained separately from Mourinho’s main group. All three remain sidelined and will miss Brazil’s late-September international window, a break in which Brazil face Australia twice before travelling to India.

Vinícius Júnior, who is fit, was among the Madrid players Ancelotti stopped to greet. The real business of the visit, though, was the treatment room and the conversation with the man who has taken his old office.

Warm words for Mourinho

Mourinho took charge of Real Madrid in July on a three-year deal. Ancelotti did not hide his affection for the Portuguese as he stood in front of reporters at Valdebebas.

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“My relationship with him has been very good for a long time. We have a good relationship, we exchange ideas and send each other messages,” Ancelotti said.

“I’m happy that he’s here, back at this great club that is Real Madrid.”

“I’m sure he’s going to do very well. Jose is a great coach and I’m convinced he’s going to do a very good job here.”

A rebuild that runs through Madrid

The visit sits inside a wider project. Ancelotti is remaking Brazil around a younger generation with the next World Cup in mind.

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“We are evaluating young Brazilian players spread all over the world, in Brazil and in Europe, to start programming a new generation that can arrive at the 2030 World Cup with ambition, quality, and readiness,” he told reporters.

That rebuild passes directly through Valdebebas. Endrick, at 20, is the youngest of the three injured players and one of the names Ancelotti has been protecting since taking the Brazil job. Rodrygo and Militão are established internationals whose autumn fitness will shape what he can put on the pitch when the friendlies begin.

Brazil play Australia in Townsville on 25 September and in Brisbane four days later, before meeting India in Kolkata on 3 October, the country’s first international break after the 2026 World Cup.

Real Madrid go into Friday’s fixture at Betis on three straight league wins. Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the two friendlies is due to be announced on Wednesday, 9 September.

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