Raphinha's Message to Ancelotti About Neymar
The Brazil squad for the friendly matches ahead of the World Cup against France and Croatia has been announced. The biggest talking point was the absence of Neymar, as Carlo Ancelotti decided not to call him up, even putting his World Cup participation in doubt.
The “Seleção” coach has been clear: he will not call any player who is not at 100%. Neymar, although back on the field after his knee surgery, has only played three matches in the Brasileirao and is still not showing his best form.
Raphinha Defends Neymar to Ancelotti
In this context, Raphinha, one of Brazil’s standout players at the moment, sent a message to Ancelotti in defense of his teammate. The Barcelona forward stated that Neymar is an exceptional player and expressed his desire to see him at the World Cup, emphasizing that, with his qualities, he can change the course of any match.
He also mentioned that he would love to share the field with him wearing the national team jersey, highlighting the importance Neymar has within the five-time world champion squad.
Still, this is not Neymar’s last chance, as the list is not final. Brazil will face Panama on May 31 in Rio de Janeiro and will later travel to the United States to play Egypt on June 6, before their World Cup debut against Morocco.
It will then be decided who makes the final squad with which Brazil will aim to win its sixth World Cup. Neymar still has time to regain his top form and convince Ancelotti, who already knows he has the locker room’s backing.
It is worth remembering that Neymar has not played for the national team since 2023, when he got injured during the qualifiers. Since Ancelotti’s arrival, he has not been called up on any occasion.
In Brazil, many believe that Neymar should be at the World Cup, as if he recovers his form, he could be crucial in attack and also provide leadership within the squad.
A similar case happened with Romário, who missed the 1998 World Cup due to injury. Despite being a key figure, Mario Lobo Zagallo decided not to call him up, generating a huge controversy in the country.
History seems to be repeating itself. Now it remains to be seen if Ancelotti’s decision will follow the same path as Zagallo’s.
