Ancelotti: We will monitor Estêvão even if he doesn't play a minute at Chelsea

Brazil national team head coach Ancelotti held a press conference to announce the new national team squad.

Good afternoon, coach. My question concerns the core objectives of this national team call-up, particularly regarding young players in the Brazil squad who lack international experience. Given the varying technical levels of the opponents, will this allow you to evaluate these young players more calmly without excessive pressure from match results?

Ancelotti: "Rather than focusing too much on the technical level of opponents, at this stage we should focus on our project – the national team's rejuvenation and restructuring, and identifying a new generation of players. Now is the ideal time to carry out this work. We began evaluating young players from the September international break and will continue this process. During this break, we will continue observing other young players who may belong to the national team in the future."

"This is a very balanced and very young squad, with as many as 9 players eligible for the Olympic age group and 15 players – not one or two, but 15 – under 23 years old. This is a very future-oriented national team. Obviously, every match is important, but team rejuvenation and restructuring cannot be entirely compatible with having a ready-made, fully mature squad."

"We must rebuild and, of course, play well and do our best to achieve what we need to do: win matches. But at the same time, we must also support the development, progression, and improvement of young players. In fact, we have called up some young players who are not currently getting regular playing time at their clubs. The national team's goals differ from clubs' goals, so we must monitor these players whom we believe can be the future of the national team."

A question for Victor Caetano – I'm not sure if Ancelotti or Rodrigo will answer – what are the criteria for calling up players from Brazilian domestic clubs? For example, we don't see players from Palmeiras or Flamengo, and what about Corinthians? How are these criteria determined? Will you answer?

Victor Caetano:"I'd be happy to explain, and I'm glad you asked this question. Due to the Brazilian football calendar – which is being adjusted this year with guarantees for 2027 – this November international break is very complex for both the Brazil national team and Brazilian clubs, as it coincides with the final decisive stage of the Brasileirão, which is a key competition managed by the Brazilian Football Confederation. We conducted thorough discussions to establish balanced criteria that meet the national team's needs without harming Brazilian domestic clubs."

"I'd also like to specifically praise the competition department and entire CBF leadership, because from 2027 onwards, there will be no Brasileirão matches scheduled after the international break, which significantly eases pressure on all parties. Currently, our call-up criteria are as follows: a maximum of one player from each Brazilian domestic club, with the exception of the two clubs competing for the title. This is because our away commitments are extremely physically demanding, and the Brasileirão has matches the day after international match days."

"It should also be noted that we communicated in advance with all clubs whose players have been selected, and they have all agreed. Of course, we did not contact the two clubs competing for the title, because they have no players in this squad. However, before the 'maximum one player' criterion, there are first the technical criteria and our entire selection process. Therefore, no one has been excluded for non-technical reasons except for the two title-contending clubs. The domestic players called up meet this list and follow the normal selection process, understood?"

"Finally, as I mentioned, considering that the schedule will improve starting next year, this decision was made as a special exception to balance the national team's goals while minimizing negative impacts on the final stretch of the Brasileirão."

Good afternoon, coach. It's clear this is a national team in an evaluation and testing period with a very low average age, but there are also some players here who were part of the last World Cup cycle...

Ancelotti:"Sorry, I didn't hear you clearly."

In addition to players in an evaluation period with a low average age, some players from the last World Cup cycle continue to be called up. My question is: Does the Brazil national team currently have a basic starting framework or at least three or four key players who form the backbone of the team? If so, who are they?

Ancelotti:"Compared with our last call-up, we selected 5 players who participated in the last World Cup, and we believe they are important to this team for the next Copa América and World Cup. I can list them: Marquinhos, Gabriel, Guimarães, Vinícius, and Raphinha."

"Additionally, in these two call-ups, we also brought in Douglas, who had a very strong performance in the previous World Cup and fully deserves to be in this squad. We consider these players to be the backbone and central axis of the national team for future matches."

Coach, you are clearly building a new team with fresh talent. In this squad is Estêvão, a young player who appears again. He didn't participate in the World Cup – due to injury – but at Chelsea, his recent performance hasn't been particularly impressive, and he hasn't received many playing opportunities. Can you discuss Estêvão and your expectations for him and the other new players in this call-up?

Ancelotti:"What are our expectations for Estêvão? We will give him all the support he needs, and we expect him to display all his talent. Our position on him is very clear: even if he doesn't play a minute at Chelsea, we will continue to monitor and track him. We will always track him until we believe he's no longer useful to the national team. But as long as we believe he can contribute to the national team, we will definitely follow his progress and give him the opportunity to develop naturally, just as he needs to develop at Chelsea."