The end is here. The marathon journey between Real Madrid and its legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti has come to an inevitable close following the club’s dramatic 4-3 loss to arch-rivals Barcelona in a wild El Clásico clash.

With that defeat, the Spanish giants have wrapped up one of their worst seasons in recent memory — if not the worst. Real Madrid, a club long regarded as the most iconic, powerful, and successful in world football, has come away empty-handed this season. After being knocked out of the UEFA Champions League — a competition they’ve conquered a record 15 times — at the hands of Arsenal in the quarter-finals, their latest defeat to Barcelona has now mathematically ruled them out of the La Liga title race.

That loss, Real Madrid’s fourth consecutive defeat to Barcelona this season, sparked an outcry among fans, many of whom are calling for Ancelotti’s immediate dismissal. Never before in the club’s history had they suffered four straight defeats to the Catalan side in a single season. The wounds were made deeper by the staggering stat that Madrid conceded 16 goals to Barcelona this season — another unwanted first.

The Madrid-based newspaper Marca captured the mood with a front-page headline on Monday that simply read: “Shame” — a one-word indictment of the club’s failed campaign. Real Madrid’s season has ended in complete collapse: out of the Champions League, beaten in the Copa del Rey final, and with no mathematical path left to challenge Barça for the league title with just three rounds remaining.

Now, Carlo Ancelotti’s time at the Santiago Bernabéu is all but over. The 65-year-old Italian tactician blamed the team's weak defensive performances for their downfall, marking the end of a highly successful era that included historic triumphs and memorable nights.

Ancelotti is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers in football history. He’s the only coach to have won the Champions League five times, has appeared in six finals, and is the sole manager to have won all major European club competitions. He also holds the unique distinction of winning the FIFA Club World Cup three times.

Despite his glittering CV, the divorce between him and Real Madrid appears unavoidable. But the future looks bright — and yellow. Ancelotti is expected to cross the Atlantic to take over Brazil’s national team, a sleeping giant in need of revival. Tasked with restoring the Seleção to global dominance, Ancelotti is tipped to lead them into the 2026 World Cup as one of the tournament’s top contenders.

His new role is expected to officially begin in June, with reports suggesting he could earn up to $11 million annually, not including bonuses, advertising deals, and sponsorship incentives.

In a poetic twist, it was Barcelona—Real’s eternal nemesis that inadvertently paved the way for this historic move. With their commanding win, they not only crushed Madrid’s final hopes this season but also sealed the fate of Ancelotti’s tenure, clearing the path for a historic union: the world’s most decorated manager at the helm of the most successful national team in World Cup history.