Rivaldo’s Take: The Cold Logic Behind Brazil’s Latest Squad

Casemiro: The Midfield Anchor Returns
When your manager’s won four Champions Leagues with you (yes, I counted), recall notices tend to arrive by private jet. Casemiro’s Manchester United adaptation period—which frankly resembled a GPS stuck on ‘recalculating’—is over. His last 10 Premier League matches? 3.2 interceptions/game (92nd percentile). Ancelotti knows exactly what he’s getting: a human panic room disguised as a defensive midfielder.

Antony’s Redemption Equation
Let’s be honest—his Manchester stint had more twists than a telenovela. But since landing in Spain? 0.38 xG/90, his highest since Ajax days. That signature left-foot curler is back to disrupting goalkeepers’ sleep cycles. More importantly, his duel win rate (58%) suggests he’s stopped treating defenders like dance partners.

Hugo Souza: The Data Behind the Debutant
At 6’4”, he literally stands out in Corinthians’ goal. But here’s what impresses me: 74% cross claim success in Serie A (top 5%). For context, that’s Alisson territory. Still raw? Absolutely. But tell me you wouldn’t want this guy facing set pieces against Colombia.

The Neymar Paradox
Here’s where I channel my inner INTJ: protecting assets isn’t weakness—it’s chess. Since Qatar 2022, Neymar’s played fewer minutes than most preseason friendlies. ACL recovery isn’t FIFA Career Mode; you can’t just press ‘simulate.’ Smart money says Ancelotti’s saving him for when it matters—with a side of plausible deniability against media hounds.

Data sources: Opta, FBref | Viz: My eternally ugly-but-accurate spreadsheets