“Casemiro Brings Charisma and Fight”—Ancelotti Reveals Why He Recalled Man United Star to Brazil Squad

New Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has spoken highly of Manchester United midfielder Casemiro after calling him back to the national team.

This is the first time Casemiro has been picked for Brazil since October 2023. The 33-year-old is now part of Ancelotti’s first squad since taking over as manager earlier this month. Brazil will play World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay, and Casemiro is expected to play a key role.

Casemiro, who started in most of Brazil’s games at the 2022 World Cup, has shown some strong performances recently for Manchester United, especially in the Europa League.

Ancelotti and Casemiro worked together at Real Madrid, where the midfielder played 75 games under the Italian coach. Now, Ancelotti has explained why he chose to bring Casemiro back into the national team.

“In my opinion, he is a great player,” Ancelotti said. “I was lucky to work with him. The national team needs players like him — someone with leadership, personality, and skill.”

He also added that while Brazil has always had very talented players, modern football requires more than just skill.

“In today’s game, you also need hard work, discipline, and the will to fight for the team. Casemiro has all of that. Many of the players we called up have those qualities too.”

Even though Ancelotti clearly values Casemiro, the midfielder’s future at Manchester United is not certain. The club is said to be ready to listen to offers for any player this summer, including Casemiro.

Since joining United from Real Madrid in 2022, Casemiro has made a big impact. But this season, he has struggled with injuries and hasn’t been at his best in every game. Despite this, he remains one of the most experienced players in the squad.

Another Manchester United player, winger Antony, has also been called up by Ancelotti. The 24-year-old is currently on loan at Real Betis in Spain and hasn’t played for Brazil since March 2023.

Antony has scored nine goals in 25 games for Betis and looks to be improving. He has played 16 times for Brazil and scored two goals, but like Casemiro, his future at Manchester United is uncertain. The club may sell him this summer as part of big changes to the squad.

Ancelotti’s decision to call up both Casemiro and Antony shows he is looking for players who bring both skill and strong character to the national team.