(Reuters) – Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is out of the Brazil squad for this month’s friendlies against England and Spain due to injury, coach Dorival Junior said on Saturday, with Porto winger Pepe set to take his place.
Casemiro’s absence adds to Brazil’s list of injured players, including Man City goalkeeper Ederson, Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli, and Paris St Germain defender Marquinhos, ahead of matches at Wembley on March 23 and in Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu three days later.
“From a preliminary list of 50 names, 13 had already been ruled out by injury at their clubs,” coach Junior revealed.
“Unfortunately, we also lost Casemiro. Pepe, from Porto, a forward by origin and now a midfielder, has been called up.”
Pepe, who is 27 years old, received his second call-up by Brazil after making his debut in a 2-1 loss to Colombia in a World Cup qualifier last year.
In response to the injuries, Dorival included Vasco da Gama goalkeeper Leo Jardim, Flamengo defender Fabricio Bruno, and Porto forward Galeno as replacements. This marks the first national team call-up for all three players.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Bento (Athletico-PR), Leo Jardim (Vasco da Gama), Rafael (Sao Paulo)
Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Yan Couto (Girona), Ayrton Lucas (Flamengo), Wendell (Porto) Beraldo (Paris St Germain), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Fabricio Bruno (Flamengo), Murilo (Palmeiras)
Midfielders: Andre (Fluminense), Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Joao Gomes (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United), Pablo Maia (Sao Paulo)
Forwards: Endrick (Palmeiras), Pepe (Porto), Galeno (Porto), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Girona) and Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid).
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Tom Hogue)
