Real Madrid remains quiet after Brazil announces Carlo Ancelotti as its new coach

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid stayed quiet about its next coach on Monday after Brazil announced Carlo Ancelotti was taking over the five-time world champion.

Madrid hadn't released any reaction or statement about its coach since 2021 late into the evening in the Spanish capital. There were no farewell or congratulatory messages for Ancelotti either.

Ancelotti was contracted to Madrid through next season but Brazil said he takes over as soon as La Liga finishes in about two weeks.

There was no news from Madrid about Ancelotti's replacement, with three games left in La Liga and the Club World Cup coming next month.

Former Madrid player Xabi Alonso, who recently said he was leaving Bayer Leverkusen, was widely expected to be hired as the new coach but there were no hints on when Madrid would make any announcement.

Madrid hosts Mallorca on Wednesday in a Liga match it needs to win to keep Barcelona from clinching the title in advance. It has two more Liga matches after that, then it will head to the Club World Cup in June.

Madrid wouldn't announce whether it will appoint a caretaker for the upcoming matches, or if Alonso would arrive immediately.

On Tuesday, Ancelotti was expected to have his routine pre-game news conference ahead of the Mallorca match. Madrid did not announce any changes to the news conference.

Brazil announced it finally reached a deal with Ancelotti a day after Madrid lost at Barcelona 4-3 in the final clasico of the season. The loss left Madrid seven points behind Barcelona, virtually out of title contention.

Many Madrid fans blame Ancelotti for a relatively poor season, saying he lost control over the squad. Madrid began the season by winning the UEFA Super Cup but has mostly struggled since then and failed to lift another trophy, losing the finals of the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey to Barcelona.

The 65-year-old Ancelotti is in his second stint with Madrid and coached the club in 350 matches. He's helped it win three Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups, two Spanish leagues, two Copa del Reys, three UEFA Super Cups and two Spanish Super Cups.

The 43-year-old Alonso played for Madrid from 2009-14. He led Bayer Leverkusen to an unprecedented German league and cup double last year in his first full season after taking over the team when it was in the Bundesliga relegation zone the season before.

His team remains the only one to complete a whole Bundesliga campaign unbeaten. Leverkusen’s only defeat in 2023-24 was to Atalanta in the Europa League final, and it bounced back three days later by winning the 2024 German Cup.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Leverkusen's head coach Xabi Alonso waves to the fans before the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, left, gives instructions during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti gives instructions during the La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Madrid in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 11, 2025. AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti reacts during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti reacts during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

MIAMI (AP) — Bam Adebayo scored 29 points, including three long jumpers in the final minutes, and Norman Powell added 27 as the Miami Heat squandered a 20-point lead before recovering to beat the Phoenix Suns 127-121 on Tuesday night.

Powell hit a 3-pointer with 48 seconds left to put Miami ahead for good, and Andrew Wiggins made a pair of free throws to seal the game after Phoenix's Dillon Brooks was called for a flagrant foul with 11.5 seconds remaining.

Adebayo pushed his career total to 9,461 points — two more than Alonzo Mourning for No. 2 on Miami's list, with Dwyane Wade's 21,556 points the franchise record. Tyler Herro scored 23 for Miami, which snapped a three-game slide.

Brooks and Grayson Allen each scored 25 for Phoenix, which had won three straight. Devin Booker finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for the Suns, while Mark Williams added 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Phoenix was trying to overcome a 20-point deficit for the second time this season; the Suns trailed by 20 to Sacramento on opening night. They're now 0-11 in games in which they trailed by at least 20 since, but had a chance on Tuesday.

The Heat led by 20 after Herro made a 3-pointer on the opening possession of the second half, and the lead was still 17 when Booker was called for an offensive foul with 9:17 left in the third quarter — a play that the Suns challenged.

They won the challenge, and the game immediately changed.

Booker made the two free throws that got awarded instead, starting what became a 13-0 run. A three-point play by Oso Ighodaro with 0.1 seconds left in the third tied the game at 92, and a 3-pointer by Collin Gillespie with 9:13 left gave the Suns their first lead of the night.

Phoenix led by as many as six in the final minutes, before Adebayo and Powell sparked the Heat comeback.

Suns: Visit Detroit on Thursday.

Heat: Host Boston on Thursday.

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) looks to pass past Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Dillon Brooks (3) drives forward defended by Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) and guard Tyler Herro (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Dillon Brooks (3) reacts as he is fouled by Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives forward defended by Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat center/forward Bam Adebayo (13) shoots over Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)