Casemiro will not be involved in this summer’s competition (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United star Casemiro has been left out of the Brazil squad for this summer’s Copa America with Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus also failing to make the cut.
Brazil head coach Dorival Júnior named his 23-man squad for this summer’s competition and for final warm-up games against Mexico and USA on Friday afternoon.
Casemiro has made 75 appearances for his country since making his debut in 2011, helping them win the Copa on home soil in 2019.
But the former Real Madrid star has endured a disastrous second season at United, looking a shadow of the player who once starred alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in Madrid.
Casemiro has faced questions over whether he is still physically cut out for the Premier League with United considering bringing in a replacement and offloading the 32-year-old this summer.
Casemiro missed Brazil’s recent friendly games against England and Spain through injury and while he is not part of the manager’s plans this summer, Dorival has not closed the door on him returning to the side in the future.
‘He deserves all the respect from all of us,’ Dorival said. ‘I had a conversation with him in Manchester about three months ago.
Antony also left out (Picture: Getty)
‘I explained what I thought about his situation, his team’s situation, and what I needed. It doesn’t mean, because it’s not coming right now, that it is or will be ruled out, in any sense.’
He continued: ‘He knows very well what I think about him, and that’s the main thing. Tomorrow (Saturday), calmly, I will make contact with Casemiro, naturally stating what I believe could happen in the future, especially because he is a player who deserves consideration, affection, respect and that we continue to believe in an athlete of this level.’
Jesus has scored just eight times this season (Picture: Getty)
Casemiro’s United teammate Antony also fails to make the cut, having part of the squad that travelled to Qatar in 2022 for the World Cup.
Gabriel Jesus will sit out this summer while his Arsenal teammates Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli chase international honours.
Richarlison has suffered an injury, according to the Brazil boss (Picture: Getty)
Richarlison is another absentee with Dorival explaining the Tottenham star has not been included after being informed he is injured, with Porto’s Evanilson selected ahead of him.
‘Evanilson is a player who has been attracting attention. Has a clear understanding of the role he performs,’ the Brazil boss said.
‘He was already a name talked about in the first call-up and now, due to an injury this morning with Richarlison, he becomes a player we can count on.’
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