Sports Card Blogs

Brazil coach Tite sends 'big hug' to injured PSG star Dani Alves

The 35-year-old could potentially have captained the Selecao in Russia, but has been forced to miss out due to a cruciate ligament injury

Brazil coach Tite has sent a ‘big hug’ to injured full-back Dani Alves but is keen to move on from the loss of the defender from his World Cup squad.

The Paris Saint-Germain man was expected to start for Brazil in Russia but suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the Coupe de France victory over Les Herbiers.

In addition, Alves had been suggested as a possible captain for the Selecao at the World Cup.

Article continues below

Editors' Picks

Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi may have already played his final game for Inter Sarri vindicated for dropping Kepa as Chelsea & Pedro impress in Spurs win Magnificent Mane takes centre stage as league leaders Liverpool put on a five-star show Lukaku sends reminder that his Man Utd career is far from over

However, while Tite sympathises with the 35-year-old’s plight, the coach says being without the veteran will not affect his job.

“I trust Dani Alves and would like to take this moment to send him a big hug from the bottom of my heart,” Tite told reporters as he announced his squad.

“The first phone call I had, he told me how it felt good to have a good environment to work at. He didn’t speak about himself.

“He’s a guy with an enormous heart and such bravery. In human terms, my choices were interfered by things like this but I could assess technical, tactical, physical and emotional details when I thought of my list.

“It doesn’t help me to cry for players who won’t play with us. My job is to prepare the squad.”

Fagner, Danilo and Rafinha are among the alternatives to Alves included in Brazil’s squad as Tite’s men prepare for their World Cup opener against Switzerland on June 17.

“I always say that we have a strong group,” Tite added. “When different players were out, the group could perform well and kept strong. Dani is an incredible leader, technically and as a person.

“But this problem with him also gave us the opportunity of preparing Fagner, Danilo and Rafinha. This is an opportunity which came to them. And we’ll have the same trust in them as we had in Dani. Of course, we’ll miss Dani.”