Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar has been named the permanent captain of Brazil by coach Tite. The head coach scrapped his rotation policy which saw Thiago Silva, Miranda and Marcelo wear the armband during the World Cup in the summer, revealing the 26-year-old star as skipper of his Selecao team on the eve of a friendly against the United States.
After a turbulent time in Russia, Neymar is relishing the challenge and believes the responsibility of leading Brazil will be good for him.
The 26-year-old – who scored twice at the showpiece tournament after recovering from a broken foot sustained in February – was a regular target of criticism for his theatrics and behaviour on the pitch, having exaggerated fouls.
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Fronting the media alongside Tite after he received the captain’s armband, Neymar told reporters: “I accepted again because I’ve learned a lot and I will learn much more. And this responsibility will be a good thing to me.”
Reflecting on his difficult World Cup campaign, Neymar said: “I think that probably no one here in this room will ever live something close that I’ve lived not even during the Olympics, but after the World Cup as well.
“I was targeted by many critics, a lot of bad things and I wasn’t OK at that very moment [after the game against Belgium] to speak. So when I’m not OK to speak I prefer to stay shut because the silence is the best answer.”
On his critics, Neymar added: “I don’t have much to say about it. I’m a player who takes the ball 11 times and in 10 times I go straight to the opponent.
“I accepted again because I’ve learned a lot and I will learn much more,” he said. “And this responsibility will be a good thing to me.
“My responsibility is even bigger now due to the captaincy but if you don’t play [good] football there’s no need of it.”
Reflecting on their World Cup quarter-final exit to bronze medallists Belgium, he apologised to the fans saying the team had set their sights on the trophy.
“I want to apologise to the supporters which got mad with us because losing is a very bad thing. We believed we could win it but it wasn’t possible.
“I think that probably no one here in this room will ever live something close that I’ve lived not even during the Olympics, but after the World Cup as well.”
Brazil face the United States and El Salvador in two international friendlies with Everton’s Richarlison set to make his debut for the national side