15 May 2026 06:59 BST |<\/span> Robin Bairner Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has given his take on the big stories of the day, from Carlo Ancelotti\u2019s new Brazil deal and Eduardo Camavinga\u2019s shock France World Cup exclusion to the possibility of Joao Pedro leaving Chelsea for Barcelona and Arne Slot\u2019s future.<\/p>\n \u201cCarlo Ancelotti has officially signed a new contract with the Brazilian Federation, with the CBF, valid for this World Cup and the next one, until July 2030,\u201d Romano confirmed on his YouTube<\/b> channel.<\/p>\n \u201cBrazil are trusting Carlo Ancelotti\u2019s work. Even before this World Cup, they are renewing his contract for four more years, until July 2030. They want Ancelotti for this and the next World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a big message from Brazil. From what I heard, Brazil had the feeling some important clubs in Europe could have tried to tempt Carlo Ancelotti after this World Cup, to return to Europe and try for a new opportunity at a top club after the incredible job he did basically everywhere, from AC Milan to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea. The career of Carlo Ancelotti is unbelievable.<\/p>\n \u201cThey had a feeling that some club could try to approach Ancelotti after the World Cup, or maybe the Italian Federation, in case he wasn\u2019t staying with Brazil, as Italy don\u2019t have a coach now after they got eliminated from the World Cup playoff.\u201d<\/p>\n Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is the highest-profile absentee from France\u2019s 26-man World Cup squad. What does this mean for his future?<\/p>\n \u201cMy understanding remains the same as I told you two weeks ago: Eduardo Camavinga doesn\u2019t want to leave Real Madrid. He is not imagining that leaving Real Madrid means going back to performances at the best level possible. He\u2019s not connecting Real Madrid problems with his own problems,\u201d Romano said.<\/p>\n \u201cCamavinga believed it was an unlucky season, but he wants to play for Real Madrid. He loves Real Madrid and wants to find his place at Real Madrid for the future. So the intention of the player is to stay.<\/p>\n \u201cIf a big proposal comes in the summer, we have to see what happens. Real Madrid could be open to discussions, but Real Madrid are not considering Camavinga a player who has to leave the club. Not at all.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there is a big proposal, Real Madrid could be open to discussions, but the player has to be open to discussions too. At the moment, my understanding is that Camavinga wants to fight for his place at Real Madrid, wants to try, stay at Real Madrid and be part of the Real Madrid project, also for the long term.<\/p>\n \u201cThis story with the French national team leaving him out is obviously complicated for him, but he will fight to be back in the Real Madrid squad for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Romano is confident that Arne Slot will remain at Liverpool next season, despite the pressure that has been building on him.<\/p>\n \u201cSlot told the media: \u2018I believe I will be the Liverpool coach next season,\u2019\u201d Romano said. \u201cHe\u2019s sending a clear message.<\/p>\n \u201cHe says, I really believe I will be the coach. I\u2019m involved in conversations. I\u2019m involved in player talks for those who want to join Liverpool.<\/p>\n \u201cArne Slot is already working together with the Liverpool board on the future project. I always told you this: Liverpool never approached any other coach so far. Should anything change, I will be here and tell you. But till today, Liverpool didn\u2019t approach any other coach. Not Xabi Alonso, not any other coach.<\/p>\n \u201cArne Slot’s message is very clear. I told you in the past few days, Liverpool are expected to continue with Arne Slot. There will be an end-of-season review, players, board, manager, but the expectation is to continue with Slot, to give him one more season.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the feeling, that\u2019s the story. Slot is confirming. Obviously, Champions League football is crucial, and so for Liverpool the next games are going to be important, but that\u2019s the direction, a very clear direction, and so Arne Slot is expected to stay and continue at Liverpool.\u201d<\/p>\n Romano responded to the reports that Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski is ready to sign a bumper contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the moment, it\u2019s unlikely to see Lewandowski staying at Barcelona. But at the same time, my understanding is that it\u2019s not true that Lewandowski already agreed a deal with Al Hilal.<\/p>\n \u201cI know there are some stories around. I\u2019m sure there will be interest from Saudi, and Al Hilal is one of the best teams in Saudi, so let\u2019s see what\u2019s going to happen, because Lewandowski will have options in Saudi, MLS, and not only. But it\u2019s not true that Lewandowski has already agreed anything with Al Hilal, from what I understand.<\/p>\n \u201cAlso, with Barcelona, at the moment it\u2019s unlikely, but we have to wait for official communications, and now there is still no official communication between Barca and Lewandowski. So let\u2019s see what\u2019s going to happen, because Lewandowski didn\u2019t tell Barcelona: \u2018I\u2019m leaving,\u2019 yet.<\/p>\n \u201cThis depends on Barca, on what Barca want to do. If tomorrow morning, in one week, in two weeks, Barcelona decide to try once again to offer a short-term contract to Lewandowski on a reduced salary, and Lewandowski decides to accept, there is still a chance he could stay at the club.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s unlikely. It\u2019s complicated. It\u2019s seen as a complicated outcome. So the most likely solution is for Lewandowski to go. But it\u2019s still something we need to understand, because Lewandowski has not signed with any other club and has not agreed any terms with Al Hilal, according to my information.\u201d<\/p>\n Barcelona\u2019s targets to replace Lewandowski should he leave are widely thought to be Atletico Madrid\u2019s Julian Alvarez and Chelsea\u2019s Joao Pedro.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Joao Pedro, my understanding is that Chelsea have absolutely no intention of letting Joao Pedro leave the club this summer. Chelsea believe the new project that has to start this summer, 2026, has to start with Joao Pedro as a crucial part of that,\u201d Romano said.<\/p>\n \u201cChelsea want Joao Pedro to stay. I already told you Barcelona love Joao Pedro. Deco already wanted to sign Joao Pedro when he was at Brighton. Joao Pedro is a player super appreciated by Barcelona, that\u2019s for sure.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Barcelona could go for Joao Pedro for a normal price, they would do that for sure, guaranteed. The conversations are real, but the chances? At this moment, Chelsea have absolutely no intention. Then summer is long. If anything changes, I will let you know. But as of today, Chelsea have no plans to let Joao Pedro go.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd obviously for Julian Alvarez, it\u2019s complicated. There is Paris Saint-Germain. Barcelona want the player, but Atletico Madrid are making it very expensive and very difficult.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Julian Alvarez story has all the doors open. I keep telling you that sentence: all the doors open. Not only the Barcelona one. There are more doors open for Julian Alvarez. But it\u2019s the player who needs to understand what he wants to do next, and that\u2019s going to dictate his future.\u201d<\/p>\n Build The FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122: LEGO\u00a9 releases stunning football-inspired collection<\/b><\/p>\n Transfer Rumours: Man Utd and Chelsea set to battle to sign breakout La Liga forward<\/b><\/p>\n Check out FootballTransfers’ new app for all of football’s big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.<\/p>\n The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:<\/p>\n \u2022Google Play<\/b><\/p>\n \u2022App Store<\/p>\n Robin Bairner is an eminent digital football journalist who has been writing about the sport for major global publishers since 2006, specialising in Ligue 1 and Scottish football. He has been chief editor of the FootballTransfers global edition since its launch in 2020. Previously Bairner had been a key member of the editorial team which helped Goal.com become the world\u2019s biggest football website. He covered multiple major competitions as a correspondent for Goal including the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he had the opportunity to work in Fortaleza<\/a>. Among his highlights of the competition was Brazil\u2019s quarter-final victory over Colombia.
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\n Chief Editor<\/span>\n <\/div>\nAncelotti signs new Brazil deal<\/h2>\n
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Camavinga dropped by France for World Cup<\/h2>\n
Will Arne Slot stay at Liverpool?<\/h2>\n
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Robert Lewandowski latest<\/h2>\n
Barcelona striker targets: Julian Alvarez and Joao Pedro<\/h2>\n
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