Ex-Flamengo says how he'd use Neymar, cites Vini Jr link-up for Brazil | OneFootball

Edílson Capetinha mentioned an attacking trio of Neymar, Vinicius Júnior and Raphinha

Neymar was the main topic of the Brazil National Team squad announcement this Monday (18), during an event at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro. With that, Edílson Capetinha, former Flamengo player, revealed how he would line up the number 10 in the team and mentioned Vinicius Júnior.

— I would play Neymar in a position that no longer really exists. I’d use him as a false 9, that guy who wouldn’t need to track back so much. Vinicius Júnior on the left and Raphinha on the right, leaving him free —, Edílson Capetinha began in an interview this Monday (18).

— Like we did with Ronaldo at the 2002 World Cup. He didn’t need to come back to defend, so we would close down the midfield and, when we had possession, open up space to get the ball to him —, recalled the former Flamengo and Brazil National Team player.

WHAT IS NEYMAR’S SITUATION?

Neymar is back in the Brazil National Team squad after almost three years. The last time the number 10 had been called up was in October 2023, for the matches against Venezuela and Uruguay in the World Cup qualifiers.

Despite Edílson Capetinha’s suggestion, Carlo Ancelotti is not expected to use Neymar as a false nine. On the other hand, Vinicius Júnior, former Flamengo player, and Raphinha are expected to start in an attacking quartet alongside Matheus Cunha and Luiz Henrique.

WHEN DOES THE BRAZIL NATIONAL TEAM PLAY?

That said, the Brazil National Team will take the field in two friendlies before the World Cup. First, the team faces Panama on May 31 at the Maracanã. Finally, they take on Egypt on June 6, already in the United States.

AND WHEN DOES FLAMENGO PLAY?

While the Brazil National Team prepares for the World Cup, Flamengo is focused on its upcoming fixtures. In that sense, the Rubro-Negro side faces Estudiantes (ARG) on Wednesday (20), at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), at the Maracanã, in the Copa Libertadores.

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