Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed he received an approach to coach Italy but turned down the role because he remains committed to leading Brazil. Italy's then-technical director Paolo Maldini, who played with Ancelotti and was later coached by him at AC Milan, told reporters last week that he approached Ancelotti about taking charge following the team's failure to qualify for a third successive World Cup.

"It's not a contract issue; that's not the reason," Ancelotti told ESPN's Pedro Ivo Almeida on Wednesday. "It's because I have a commitment to the CBF and to this country, because this country has welcomed me so warmly during this first year." Ancelotti signed a contract extension with the Brazil Football Confederation (CBF) in May through to the 2030 World Cup. Under Ancelotti, Brazil suffered their earliest World Cup exit since 1990 with a round-of-16 defeat to Norway.

Ancelotti is set to move forward with a new-look squad, with several veterans likely to be replaced by younger names. Brazil's all-time leading scorer Neymar is among those who will make way, having reiterated his decision to retire from national team duty. Asked about the likes of Alisson Becker, Casemiro, Danilo, and Alex Sandro -- all of whom are 33 or older -- Ancelotti wouldn't rule out them having a future but made clear that changes would be coming.