Carlo Ancelotti gives England World Cup verdict with true thoughts on Jude Bellingham

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Carlo Ancelotti I has claimed that England will be “dangerous” at the World Cup - and hailed Jude Bellingham as “a good guy and a great player”.

The former Chelsea and Everton manager is back in London for Brazil’s friendly with Senegal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. The Italian, 66, was appointed as the first foreign coach of the Selecao as the football-mad nation seeks a sixth World Cup - and their first since 2002.

But Ancelotti said Thomas Tuchel’s team will be big rivals for the title in North America next summer. “England will be dangerous for sure,” he said. “They have fantastic quality, a fantastic manager. I saw them play last night against Serbia.

"They are a team with a lot of quality and of course. Maybe they will say they will not compete but I am sure they will compete and try to win the World Cup.”

The build-up to England’s win over Serbia this week was dominated by Bellingham, who was dropped from the previous squad in October by Thomas Tuchel.

Ancelotti was Real Madrid boss when Bellingham was signed from Borussia Dortmund for £88m in 2023 - and helped the club to Liga and Champions League double in his first season.

He was Real Madrid’s top scorer in the league and he provided an assist for Brazil star Vinicius Jr in the Champions League final against his former club Borussia Dortmund.

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Asked if Bellingham was one of the best midfielders in the world , Ancelotti laughed: Jude “What do you expect me to say? Yes or no? Of course. One of the best. I had a good relationship with him. He helped me to win one Champions League in 2024.

"So for me, I am a little bit involved in the judgement of Jude Bellingham but he is a good guy and a great player.”

Ancelotti has picked nine Premier League players in his squad for the November internationals with Brazil also facing Tunisia in Lille on Tuesday.

He has called up Arsenal ’s Gabriel Magalhães, Lucas Paqueta from West Ham United, Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes, Tottenham's Richarlison, Casemiro and Matheus Cunha of Manchester United and Chelsea trio Joao Pedro, Estevao and Andrey Santos.

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“The Premier League is a fantastic league,” said Ancelotti. “The players who play here bring a lot of experience and intensity. Of course it is a league which is really, really exciting. But also a lot of intensity.”

Teenager Estevao has quickly become a Chelsea fan favourite with four goals this season and Gabriel said: "Yes, in a way his start in England has surprised me, because he's a young boy who just arrived at Chelsea.

"But he has a very good head on his shoulders. I've spoken to him a bit and I'm happy that he arrived safely. And, of course, when a player from our country arrives here in England, we wish him the best. Not against Arsenal, of course! But I'm happy for him."