LONDON — João Pedro has pulled out of the Brazil national team due to an injury.
On Wednesday, the Brazilian soccer federation announced that Martinelli from Fluminense would take his place.
– Ancelotti announces revamped Brazil team following World Cup disappointment
– João Pedro calls for a new name for Chelsea’s trio
– VAR made the right decision not to send off Gabriel against Chelsea, review concludes
João Pedro had been called up for upcoming friendlies against Australia and India, making his absence from Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup selection earlier this year unexpected.
The specifics of João Pedro’s injury have not been disclosed by the federation.
The forward has had an impressive start to the season, netting three goals in six matches across competitions and was awarded Premier League Player of the Month for August.
While Chelsea has not confirmed the nature of his injury, it is worth noting he played the entire match and scored in a 2-2 tie against Hull over the weekend.
Chelsea will face Brentford in their final match before the international break on Friday.
The upcoming matches against Australia and India mark Brazil’s first games since their disappointing early exit from the World Cup, where they lost to Norway in the round of 16.
Many were surprised when João Pedro was not included in the World Cup squad despite his stellar performance for Chelsea, where he was named Player of the Season.
Brazilian star Neymar was on the team but had minimal influence, making just two substitute appearances.
This news is significant for soccer fans as it highlights the impact of injuries on national team selections, particularly for high-profile players like João Pedro. Additionally, his absence could shift dynamics for Brazil, who are aiming to recover from their World Cup struggles and reinvent their squad moving forward.
Source: www.espn.com
