Varela on healthy battle with Palmeiras full-back for Uruguay berth | OneFootball

Flamengo right-back Guillermo Varela, in the latest Uruguay squad, says his duel with Palmeiras full-back Joaquín Piquerez for a berth is a healthy one. He intends to fight for a place in Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

“We are two full-backs who have been in Brazil for a few years, we have faced each other many times. We both know Uruguay’s traits and what Marcelo Bielsa asks for, he likes full-backs who like to attack. So I will seek that spot and, if I get the chance, I will help in defence and in attack,” Varela said, speaking to the Uruguay national team’s official channel.

The pair play for different clubs in Brazil, yet have long been team-mates with La Celeste. At the last World Cup in Qatar, only Varela was available to the national team.

This is the final call-up before the definitive list for the 2026 World Cup. Varela and Piquerez have two matches to convince Bielsa.

Uruguay face England on Friday 27 at 16:45 Brasília time at Wembley, London. On Tuesday 31, they meet Algeria at 15:30, also Brasília time, at the Allianz Stadium in Italy.

Source: Coluna Do Fla