The Coach of the Brazil Olympic football team has revealed he intends to call Barcelona forward Neymar for the 2016 tournament.
Olympic football is for Under-23s but countries are allowed to name three over-age players and AS reports Alexandre Gallo as confirming Neymar will be among them.
Gallo argued that Neymar’s importance to Brazil means he has to be included and compared the forward to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I would use the three [overage] players, or rather two. One of them is Neymar,” Gallo said.
“Although it’s difficult to mention names, he is important in this national team. Just as it’s hard to think of Argentina in the Olympics without Messi or Portugal without Cristiano, they are players that are a level above.
“Neymar is a reference for the team and will help a lot.”
Brazil have never won an Olympic gold medal for football and were beaten in the final by Mexico during London 2012.
