Lula says Ancelotti will not call up players just for their name amid Neymar debate | OneFootball

Lula says Carlo Ancelotti will not pick players on reputation, only those ready, speaking at a World Cup trophy event in Brasília. According to Diario Do Peixe, his comments touched on a possible call-up for Neymar Jr of Santos.

The president said he had spoken to Ancelotti and stressed only those 100% fit, prepared and playing would be chosen, not by name. He added he is convinced Brazil will win the World Cup.

Neymar, Santos’s No 10, is pushing for minutes to make the March squad, due on Monday 16 March. It is the last list before the official World Cup squad.

Brazil face France on 26 March in Foxborough, then Croatia on 31 March in Orlando. After those friendlies, the final squad will meet Egypt at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland on 16 June.

Neymar returned after a December arthroscopy, coming on at half-time in a rout of Velo Clube in the Paulistão at Vila Belmiro, then starting the defeat to Novorizontino at Jorjão that ended Santos’s state campaign.

In the Brasileiro he started and scored twice in a win over Vasco at the Vila. Before the list, he could face Mirassol on 10 March at the Maião and Corinthians on 15 March at the Vila.

After surgery on 22 December on his left knee, he resumed through physiotherapy, began transition work in late January and has trained with the squad recently. The staff have been cautious with his return, aiming for peak condition before any World Cup call-up.

Source: Diario Do Peixe