Carlo Ancelotti says he has received no special request from Barcelona over Raphinha’s selection for Brazil’s November internationals, after club president Joan Laporta criticised the impact of international football on clubs.
Raphinha has been included in Ancelotti’s squad for two friendlies in Singapore. Brazil will play Japan on Saturday, 14 November, before facing the hosts on 17 November.
According to Sport, the Barcelona forward will travel almost 22,000 kilometres on the return journey. Raphinha suffered a muscle tear on 29 September while playing for Brazil against Australia in Brisbane and has yet to return to his best physical and technical condition.
Laporta recently said clubs suffered considerable damage because of international fixtures. He also criticised the length of the previous international break, during which some national teams played three matches, including Brazil, while European sides involved in the Nations League played four.
Asked about Laporta’s comments at a news conference held at the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters, Ancelotti said: “We maintain good relations with Brazilian and European clubs, and we exchange information about the players with them. In general, this relationship is good.”
The former Real Madrid manager added that neither Barcelona nor any other club had contacted him with a specific request regarding the November matches.
“We do not have special requests, nor do we need them,” he said. “During international breaks, we will call up the players we consider important for the Brazil national team.”
Brazilian clubs have been given preferential treatment by Ancelotti and the Brazilian Football Confederation because they are entering the decisive stage of the Brazilian league. European clubs have not previously received the same consideration.
“This is a sensitive period, so we selected only one player from each team and decided not to call up anyone from Flamengo or Palmeiras because they are competing for the title,” Ancelotti said.
Brazil planning a balanced rebuild
Ancelotti said Raphinha’s inclusion was part of a plan to retain the core of the team while introducing younger players after Brazil’s failure at the World Cup.
“We have started a rebuilding project, and now is the ideal time to carry it out,” he said. “In September, we began assessing a group of younger players, and we are continuing with those who could form the future of the Brazil national team.”
He said the squad contained nine players eligible for Olympic football and up to 15 players aged under 23.
Five members of the squad played at the last World Cup and, Ancelotti said, would be important for the next Copa America and a new World Cup. They are Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bruno Guimaraes, Vinicius Junior and Raphinha.
Douglas Santos has also been recalled because he “performed extremely well at the World Cup”, Ancelotti added.
The manager did not directly say whether Raphinha would continue as a central striker, a position he has played for Barcelona this season and occupied in the friendly against Australia, when he was injured.
“We have forwards who are flexible and can play in different positions,” Ancelotti said.
He was clearer about Brazil’s formation, confirming that the team would continue with three midfielders and three forwards against Japan and Singapore.
Ancelotti therefore ruled out, for now, a return to the four-man attack used unsuccessfully during the World Cup and in the first friendly against Australia.
