Ancelotti Discusses Neymar's Role and Absence Ahead of Brazil's 2025 Friendlies
Coach Carlo Ancelotti outlines Neymar's potential central role and the reasons behind his absence as Brazil readies for late-2025 friendlies.
- • Neymar is absent from Brazil's squad for friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia in November 2025.
- • Coach Ancelotti sees Neymar potentially playing as a false 9, a more central offensive position.
- • Ancelotti stresses the need for intensity in modern football alongside technical talent.
- • There is hope from the CBF and coaching staff for Neymar's return to peak physical condition and World Cup participation.
Key details
As Brazil prepares for its final matches of 2025, star player Neymar remains absent from coach Carlo Ancelotti's squad for upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia. Scheduled for November 15 at the Emirates Stadium in London and November 18 at the Decathlon Arena in Lille, these matches will mark the end of Brazil's commitments for the year. Ancelotti, addressing frequent questions about Neymar's absence, acknowledged Neymar's legendary status within Brazilian football while expressing hope that he will regain peak physical condition soon. The coach suggested that Neymar could be more effective if deployed as a "false 9," a more central attacking role that might better suit both the player and the team's tactical evolution. However, Ancelotti emphasized that modern football demands high levels of physical intensity alongside skill. Despite Neymar's current omission, Ancelotti remains optimistic about his potential participation in the next World Cup, highlighting the collective hope from the Brazilian Football Confederation, coaching staff, and teammates for his return. These insights were shared in an interview with Placar, reflecting the strategic considerations around integrating Neymar back into Brazil's squad moving forward.