Neymar will be in the next World Cup. This was announced by Carlo Ancelotti in a massive event that caused delirium among the attendees. The Santos forward, at 34 years old, will be part of the ‘canarinha’ in the big national team event. But the inclusion of the Brazilian star was not the only news on the Italian coach’s list. Absences are also notable.
Some forced, like those of the Madridistas Eder Militao and Rodrygo or the Chelsea winger Estevaowho have not been able to recover from their respective injuries in time. Others, however, have been left out due to a technical decision.
Ancelotti gives the call for Brazil with Neymar
One of them has been Thiago Silva who, although it has been a long time since he has attended a call-up with the ‘canarinha’, had been granted many options in the days prior to the announcement of the final list. To his 41 yearsthe current Porto centre-back says goodbye definitively to the possibility of playing his last major tournament with the national team.
In that list of discards, yes, Chelsea has been the team forgotten by ‘Carletto’. And the fact is that with the forced decline of Estevao Two others are added, surely the most notable: Joao Pedro and Andrew Santos. The former, who has recently been linked with Barcelona, will miss the World Cup, as will the ‘blue’ midfielder, despite being in the last call-up for the two friendlies against France and Croatia. And, according to Ancelotti’s own statements, it is one of the losses that has cost the Italian coach the most to decide: “I am sad for the players who have been left out, like João Pedro“.
Antony, a casualty announced
In terms of the Spanish League, another of the notable absences is that of the green and white Anthony. Despite not having any minutes since 2023, the winger had completed a good season with Betis and had already been called up for some qualifying matches, although without playing a single minute.
Ancelotti has had to decide and his commitment to the emotional impact it can cause Neymar is weighed above other factors. Now it’s Carletto’s turn to recover the best possible version of ‘Ney’ for one last dance with the ‘canarinha’. Those who are absent will have to wait.
