Ancelotti: Neymar will compete with Vinicius and Rafinha and I will keep this secret for the World Cup.

Can he?

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has said Neymar will compete with Vinicius Junior and Rafinha for playing time if the veteran striker is ready for the World Cup.

The forward of “Santos” missed in the friendly match of the Brazilian national team against Panama (6:2) at the “Maracana” stadium.Sunday is also a doubt for his country’s opening game against Morocco on June 13 due to a right calf strain.

“Neymar has to play in his natural position… He has to play deep in the field and he can’t play on the wing… He won’t play as a winger, but rather he will play deep as a striker or an attacking midfielder… in one of these two positions.”

The Italian coach added: “This is the position in which Vinicius and Rafinha played against Panama.”

Neymar (age 34) is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals.

Injuries have affected Neymar’s participation in the national team since October 2023, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the national team.

However, Neymar was named in Brazil’s final 26-man squad for the tournament hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, making his fourth World Cup appearance.

When asked how he intends to work with “Flamengo” midfielder Lucas Paqueta, Ancelotti joked. “I want to keep some things private until the World Cup starts, otherwise we won’t have anything to talk about.”

He continued. “It’s a little help for you, the media, because we’ve exhausted everything there is to say about Neymar.”

Brazil are due to travel to the US on Monday before playing their final friendly against Egypt in Cleveland on Saturday.

Source link