Ancelotti says Brazil received no special request over Raphinha

Carlo Ancelotti says Barcelona made no request for Raphinha to be left out of Brazil’s November friendlies, despite criticism from the club’s president Joan Laporta.

The Brazil coach has selected Raphinha for matches against Japan in Singapore on Saturday, 14 November, and the hosts on 17 November.

According to Sport, the Barcelona forward faces a round trip of almost 22,000 kilometres during the international break.

Laporta had expressed his frustration after Raphinha was injured on international duty during the previous break. The 29 September muscle tear occurred while the forward was playing for Brazil against Australia in Brisbane, and he has yet to regain his best physical and technical condition.

The Barcelona president said clubs suffer significant damage because of international football. He also criticised the length of the previous break, during which some national teams played three matches, as Brazil did, while European sides involved in the Nations League played four.

Speaking at a news conference at the Brazilian Football Confederation after announcing his squad, Ancelotti said Brazil maintained good communication with clubs.

“We have good relationships with Brazilian and European clubs, and we exchange information about the players. In general, this relationship is good,” he said.

However, the former Real Madrid manager stressed that Barcelona had not made a specific request about Raphinha or any other player for the two November fixtures.

“We do not have special requests, and we do not need them either. During international breaks, we will call up the players we consider important for the Brazil national team,” Ancelotti added.

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.

Ancelotti said Raphinha’s inclusion was also part of a balanced squad as Brazil begins to introduce younger players following their failure at the World Cup.

“We have started a renewal project, and now is the perfect time to carry it out. 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 contains nine players eligible for the Olympics and up to 15 players aged under 23.

Ancelotti said it remained important to retain Brazil’s core, selecting five players who featured at the last World Cup: Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bruno Guimaraes, Vinicius Junior and Raphinha.

He also recalled Douglas Santos after praising his “very positive” performance at the World Cup.

Asked whether Raphinha would continue as a striker, the position he has occupied for Barcelona this season and played in against Australia, Ancelotti did not give a direct answer.

“We have forwards who are flexible and can play in different positions,” he said.

He did confirm that Brazil would continue with three midfielders and three forwards against Japan and Singapore, rather than using four attacking players as they did at the World Cup and in the first Australia friendly.

“I focus on what we can do, not on the quality of our opponents,” Ancelotti said.