Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been put back in ‘pole position’ to take the vacant Brazil job amid a ‘possible departure’ from the Etihad.
That’s according to Sport, who say those in charge at the Confederaçao Brasileira de Futebol are ‘once again betting’ on making Guardiola their replacement for Tite.
They report that the ‘institutional crisis’ at Manchester City following the charges brought against them by the Premier League for alleged financial irregularities.
That is shaping up to be one of the ‘biggest scandals’ in the history of English football if they are found to be guilty and something which could bring Guardiola closer to the Seleçao bench.
That is something that the CBF ‘expects to materialise’ in the coming days, particularly if the Premier League ends up sanctioning the Cityzens.
Guardiola has always been CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues’ first choice to replace former boss Tite, who left after the Seleçao’s failure at the World Cup in Qatar.
The CBF had already been in contact with the Manchester City coach about the position but he declined the offer and reinforced his desire to remain at the Etihad.
However, this episode and possible ‘exemplary sanction’ that could be applied to City has changed the situation and could lead to Guardiola being ‘on the market’. That possibility has led Brazil to ‘go back to square one’ in their manager hunt.
Indeed there was speculation on Wednesday that the Confederaçao may have backtracked on their intention to hire a coach this month, with the CBF now willing to wait until June when the European season ends.
That change is seen a ‘further nod’ to Guardiola, as he could complete the campaign with Manchester City and then leave to embark on his first international role.
Now, to be clear, this is very much Sport’s information and the word from Brazil is very much that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is at the top of the list of candidates, at least according to what Globo Esporte reported two days ago.
That means this latest from Sport should be taken with a pinch of salt but given the developing situation at Manchester City it could be one to keep an eye on given their longstanding interest in Guardiola.
