Carlos Alberto doesn’t want Neymar Jr captaining Brazil
Brazil’s 1970 World Cup winning captain Carlos Alberto is against Neymar Jr captaining Brazil. He says new Selecao coach Tite should take the national captaincy away from Neymar.
Carlos Alberto doesn’t want Neymar Jr captaining Brazil
Neymar was made Brazil captain when Dunga returned as coach in 2014. That was after a World Cup on home soil in which the Barcelona star had impressed. But then watched injured as rest of the team were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the semifinals.
The Copa America 2015 saw Neymar lead the team until he was sent off in a group game against Colombia. And then he missed the rest of the tournament through the suspension.
Being freed of the responsibility to lead the team would be a boost for both Neymar and Brazil. Or so the legendary right-back Carlos Alberto has told SporTV.
“If I was the national coach, the first thing I would do would be to ask Neymar to have the humility to return the captain’s armband so the coach can choose another player,” Carlos Alberto said. “It does not suit him to be captain. Pele was never captain. Neither was Garrincha, or Ronaldo, Rivaldo or Nilton Santos. Why does Neymar have to be captain of the national team?
“It would be better to let him play and free him from the responsibility of leading the group. Leave him free to just think about playing football. He would do more for the team than he has done. I would leave Miranda as captain.”
Even though Neymar is clearly Brazil’s most potent player, Carlos Alberto said that the Brazilian football federation (CBF) should make their stance clear.
“In Dunga’s time, the national team did not have leadership either on or off the pitch,” he said. “Taking the armband away from Neymar cannot just be a decision for the coach.”
