Cruzeiro have four players called up for U20 World Cup in Chile | OneFootball

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) released, on the afternoon of Thursday (18), the list of players called up for the U-20 World Cup, which will be held in Chile between September 27 and October 19. Among the 21 names selected by coach Ramon Menezes, four are from Cruzeiro: goalkeeper Otávio, defender Bruno Alves, midfielder Murilo Rikhman, and attacking midfielder Rhuan Gabriel.

The significant number of call-ups is a result of the work Cruzeiro has been doing as one of the main talent developers in the country today, right alongside Palmeiras, which also had four players selected. The call-up reinforces the ongoing work in Cruzeiro’s youth academy, which in recent years has invested in infrastructure and scouting to reveal new players.

The four athletes had already been frequent names on Ramon Menezes’ lists throughout the current U-20 National Team cycle. All of them played an active role in the victorious campaign at the South American Championship for the category, held at the start of this season, when Brazil won the title and secured a spot in the World Cup. For much of that journey, Otávio, Bruno Alves, Murilo Rikhman, and Rhuan Gabriel were either starters or impactful substitutes, gaining valuable minutes in the yellow jersey.

For Cruzeiro, Otávio (19) has already been actively participating in training sessions with the main squad and, although he has not yet had opportunities to play, is constantly praised by Leonardo Jardim. Bruno Alves (20) is also gradually earning some opportunities in the first team’s training sessions. Rhuan Gabriel (19) is another player seen as one of the technical standouts of this team and has also been promoted to the professional squad for training on several occasions. But, of the four called up, the most experienced is Murilo Rhikman (19), who is already integrated into the professional squad and has over 300 minutes with Cruzeiro’s main team, playing in 5 matches and being directly coached by the Portuguese Leonardo Jardim.

Five-time champions of the tournament, with titles in 1983, 1985, 1993, 2003, and 2011, the Brazil U-20 National Team heads to Chile with the mission of seeking a sixth championship. The expectation is that Cruzeiro’s players will continue to play a prominent role in the team, not only because of the experience they have accumulated during the cycle, but also due to the level of performance they have shown both for the club and the National Team.

Colombian Gem

In addition to the four called up, another name linked to Cruzeiro who may attract attention during the World Cup is Colombian Neyser Villarreal. The midfielder, one of the standouts of the last South American U-20 Championship, has a pre-contract signed with Cruzeiro and is expected to represent Colombia in the competition. Currently at Millonarios, Villarreal is under contract with the Colombian club until November and, after the World Cup, the expectation is that he will report to Toca da Raposa to officially begin his journey in Brazilian football.

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