Aston Villa striker Wesley Moraes has been handed a late call-up to the Brazil squad after an injury to Ajax Amsterdam’s David Neres. If proof were needed that Aston Villa matches are capturing the attention of football-mad Brazil, then this is it as summer signing Wesley can celebrate his first invite to train with the Selecaco.
The ex-Club Brugge star, who turns 23 later this month, was not on Tite’s original list for the upcoming matches against Argentina on November 15 and South Korea four days later.
Both fixtures are friendlies but any cross-border clash with Argentina will be fully competitive even if World Cup qualification points are not at stake.
Being a rookie, Wesley is probably going to be watching that one from the bench, but his chance to earn a senior cap is likely to come in the Korea game.
The 22-year-old has never previously represented Brazil at any level and he has not played professionally in the country of his birth either, having joined Slovakian outfit Trencin at the age of 18 after some semi-professional football at home.
Club Brugge snapped him up after barely six months in Europe and Villa were persuaded to pay £22million for him after he hit 38 goals in 130 appearances for the Belgian club.
After a few early-season teething troubles, Wesley has now settled in at Villa Park and four goals in 12 Premier League appearances have seen him elevated to full international level.
However, competition for places in the Brazil set-up is such that Wesley could return from his trip without having earned a cap as Tite is likely to focus on the likes of Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus, Willian, Richarlison and the very young Real Madrid talent Rodrygo.
And some good news for Dean Smith comes in the form of how far Wesley will have to travel for the matches, neither of which will be played in South America or Korea.
Brazil face Argentina In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia before taking on the Asian Games champions in Abu Dhabi.
COMMENTS