Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has announced the national team squad for November's friendly matches. The 26-man list includes two representatives from Shakhtar Donetsk: midfielder Marlon Gomes and forward Alisson Santana. For both players, this is their first call-up to the senior Brazil national team, making their inclusion one of the key storylines of the squad overhaul under the Italian manager.
Five Newcomers in the Selecao Squad
According to Sport RBC.UA and other sports publications, as part of the national team renewal, five players have received their first-ever call-ups to the senior squad. In addition to the two Shakhtar players, debut call-ups went to defender Jonathan Jesus from Cruzeiro, midfielder Andre Luiz from Corinthians, and Allan from Manchester City. The squad was announced at the Brazilian Football Federation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.
Ancelotti's Stance: Getting to Know New Players
The Italian specialist explained the decision by stating he wants to get closer to the new players and evaluate their capabilities. "Each of them has their own qualities. Jonathan Jesus, in my opinion, is a very strong defender possessing the necessary qualities: very fast, aggressive, smart. Alisson Santana has high individual skill, and Marlon Gomes has dynamism," Ancelotti said. According to the coach, it is important to know the players closely to understand if they can be useful to the national team overall.
Calendar and Squad for November Matches
In November, the Brazil national team will play two friendly matches: on November 14, Ancelotti's team will face Japan, and on November 17, they will play against Singapore. In addition to the newcomers, the roster for these matches includes players such as Gabriel (Arsenal), Bruno Guimaraes (Arsenal), Vinicius and Endrick (Real Madrid), Raphinha (Barcelona), Estevao (Chelsea), Douglas Santos (Zenit), and others. The goalkeeping line is represented by Bento (Al-Nassr), Lucas Perri (Torino), and Pedro Morisco (Coritiba).
Significance of the Call-Up for Shakhtar
The inclusion of Marlon Gomes and Alisson Santana in the country's main team roster confirms that the Donetsk club's players are on the coaching staff's radar at the highest level. For Shakhtar, this is an additional argument in favor of the club's growing role in the Brazilian football system and an indicator that its players continue to attract attention with their performances. The upcoming friendlies will be the first opportunity for both debutants to prove themselves in the Selecao jersey.
