Text: Valeria Zukeran

Brazil’s football head coach Dunga will head to Europe this Sunday (6 March) on a mission to ensure that some of the nation’s top players – including Barcelona star Neymar – are available for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The captain of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning team will speak with players and directors of some of the continent’s largest clubs as he seeks to ensure the five-time world champions have the best possible chance of winning their first Olympic title in August.

“We are going to speak with the clubs and the players to reach a common denominator, so that it is good for both and no one is hindered”

Dunga, Brazil head coach

Dunga speaks to journalists in Rio on Thursday (Photo: CBF/Rafael Ribeiro)

Olympic football squads feature 18 players, the majority of whom are under 23 years old. However, each nation may include three players over the age limit. But because clubs are not obliged to release players for the Olympic tournament, which coincides with the holidays of Europe-based players, club versus country disputes can sometimes arise. The staging of a special centenary edition Copa America in the USA in June has further complicated issue this year.

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Neymar has already stated his intention to compete in the Rio 2016 Games and has reportedly said he wants to play in the Copa America too. Asked about this, Dunga said: “I would hope that it’s true. It’s good for a player to want to be in the Brazilian football museum and when their families walk by, they can say, ‘My name’s there. I won.’”

But speaking at a press conference on Thursday (3 March) Dunga – a silver medallist at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games – said it was necessary to have the agreement of the clubs. “We have to speak not only with Barcelona, but also the other teams that will cede players over the age of 23 and reach an agreement. Our way of working in the Brazilian national side is that, since the players are valuable to their clubs, we have to talk, explain our ideas and hear theirs.

“The player spends the majority of their time with their club and a very short period with the national side. We have to deliver these players to their clubs in the best condition. We don’t want to exhaust anyone”

The coach also revealed an idea under consideration: during the Copa America, to try to merge Olympic players with players from the main national side. “But it’s a detail that at the right time we’ll look at,” he said.

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