Ancelotti and Neymar's key chat: terms for a 2026 World Cup spot | OneFootball

Neymar returns to the Brazil national team and will play in the 2026 World Cup. Amid huge excitement across the country, Carlo Ancelotti finally decided to call him up. But first, they had a key conversation in which his return was settled.

According to Globo, last Thursday the Italian coach and Brazil sporting director Rodrigo Caetano spoke with the Santos forward via video call.

During that conversation, they explained to Ney the new conditions in the Brazil national team: he would not be the team captain and, for the time being, he would not start as an automatic first-choice player in the coach’s system either. They also discussed the team rules put in place by the Italian and his staff since his arrival. They even talked about reducing exposure on social media.

According to reports, Neymar took the message well and showed a willingness to contribute to the Seleção group at the World Cup — from whatever role he is given. That positive reaction from the player ultimately convinced the coach to include him in the World Cup squad.

“We evaluated Neymar over the course of the whole year. In this past year he played consistently and is physically fit. He is an important player for this World Cup. He has the same role and obligation as the other 25: to play or to be on the bench. He is an experienced player and, in some positions, like goalkeeper, we prioritized experience, as was the case with Weverton from Grêmio. What was under evaluation throughout the year was the physical side; with Neymar, it was a physical issue. In the last few matches he had continuity and will have the chance to improve his condition ahead of the World Cup’s first match. His experience in this kind of competition, and the affection the group has for him, can create a better team atmosphere and help the squad get the best out of itself,” Ancelotti explained at a press conference. He concluded: “I want to be clear, straightforward and honest. He will play if he deserves to play.”

Neymar, who starred for Barcelona and PSG in Europe and currently wears the Santos shirt, returns to the Brazil national team after nearly three years away and will play in his fourth World Cup.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.