Ramon calls up “alternative” under-20 team for Pan American Games

The Brazilian team that will seek gold at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, was called up this Friday. In order not to harm the clubs that are competing in the Brasileirão, Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana, Ramon Menezes called an ‘alternative’ team, without first-team athletes from the clubs that play in the country.

The list of 18 called up is very different from the list announced on August 18th for friendlies in Morocco – the team only played one game due to an earthquake in the African country. On that occasion, 22 names were called. Of them, only Mycael, from Athletico-PR, and Lucas Halter, from Goiás, appear on the Pan American Games list, due to the fact that they are not starters on their respective teams.

The Pan American Games take place between October 20th and November 5th and would miss teams in four rounds of the Brasileirão, for example. The teams would still be without their players on rounds 27 and 28 because of the presentation of the players, on October 9, for the training phase.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) reached an agreement with the clubs so that no one would be harmed. In this way, names like Gabriel Moscardo, Marcos Leonardo, Welington, Paulinho, Marlon Gomes, Gabriel Grando, Maurício and Vitão end up not being called up.

“It is a pleasure to represent Brazil in a competition that we have not competed in for years. I would like to thank the president of the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, and the coordinator of the CBF base, Branco, for this opportunity and also to all the clubs for releasing the its athletes”, stated Ramon Menezes, shortly before announcing the 18 squad.

Brazil debuts at the Pan Pan against the United States, on October 23, in Valparaíso, at 2 pm. The second clash will be against Colombia, on the 26th, at 4pm, in Vinã del Mal. The final round of matches takes place against the Honduras team, on the 29th, at 7pm, in Sausalito. The team starts training at Granja Comary on October 9th.

Check out the 18 called up for the Pan American Games

Goalkeepers – Mycael (Athletico-PR), Andrew (Gil Vicente-POR) and Matheus Donelli (Corinthians)

Full-backs – João Moreira (São Paulo), Rikelme (Cuiabá) and Patrick (São Paulo)

Defenders – Lucas Halter (Goiás), Gustavo Martins (Grêmio) and Arthur Chaves (Academic of Viseu-PORL)

Midfielders – Matheus Dias (Internacional), Guilherme Biro (Corinthians), Marquinhos (Nantes-FRA), Ronald (Grêmio) and Igor Jesus (Flamengo)

Forwards – Gabriel Veron (Porto-POR), Matheus Nascimento (Botafogo), Figueiredo (Vasco) and Kaio (Coritiba)