Brazil near final decision on potential Carlo Ancelotti appointment | OneFootball

The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) are prepared to end their pursuit of Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, a report has claimed.

It was revealed late last month that the CBF had reignited their contact with Ancelotti as they prepared to part ways with Dorival Junior, who was relieved of his duties in the wake of a humbling 4-1 defeat to Argentina.

Ancelotti publicly denied any talks but is understood to have been open to the idea of managing Brazil, although his reluctance to make the move in the near future left the CBF considering other options.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was touted as a possible option, as was Jorge Jesus of Al Hilal, and UOL state the latter is now emerging as the leading candidate.

Jesus is out of contract in the summer but Brazil want to hire him in the coming weeks and are ready to pay his release clause of €2.5m (£2.2m) to get a deal over the line. A contract until the end of the 2026 World Cup is believed to have been agreed with Jesus.

While Brazil's pursuit of Ancelotti may be ending, the doubts over his long-term future with Madrid have only grown in the aftermath of a crushing week which has left the club's hopes of winning both La Liga and the Champions League in tatters.

A 2-1 defeat at home to Valencia saw Madrid fall four points behind Barcelona in La Liga, and Ancelotti's side followed that up with a 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

It was reported in January that Ancelotti, whose contract runs until 2026, could be relieved of his duties this summer if he fails to deliver any major silverware this season - an outcome which seems increasingly likely after recent results.

Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso is known to be Madrid's dream successor but the German side remain confident they will not lose their boss this summer.