Brazil calls up Marcelo and Casemiro Replacements

Brazil coach Tite has called up Bayern Leverkusen’s Wendell and Rafael Carioca of Atletico Mineiro to fill the vacancies left by Marcelo and Casemiro.

The pair was called up after injury ruled out the Real Madrid duo ahead of October’s double-header against Bolivia and Venezuela, and they are expected to meet up with their international team-mates on Sunday in Teresopolis, where the Selecao are training for the matches.

Rafael Carioca had been included in the squad earlier in Tite’s reign in matches against Ecuador and Colombia, but failed to get an appearance of any form in the two games.

The midfielder will now miss Atletico’s Campeonato Brasileiro clash against Corinthians, with the Belo Horizonte side gunning qeup for the Brazilian league title five points behind leaders Palmeiras.

Wendell, meanwhile, has been impressing at left-back for his club prior to this, which is his first call-up for the senior squad. He had previously been included in the Olympic side’s preparations for the Rio 2016 Games but did not feature on the pitch.

With 15 points, Brazil are second in the CONMEBOL standings behind leaders Uruguay on 16. Natal’s Arena das Dunas will host Bolivia in the first clash on October 6 before the Selecao travel to Venezuela four days later to complete the double-header.
Barcelona forward, Neymar will also be expected to come back into the team after his Olympic gold medal victory and subsequent rest from international duties  for recuperation.