03 March 2023 , 22:38
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Gabriel Magalhaes appeared to confirm his disappointment after missing out on Brazil’s latest squad.
The central defender has been in imperious form for Arsenal, building a rock-solid partnership with William Saliba. In 25 games the Premier League leaders have conceded just 23 goals with the two centre backs taking much of the plaudits.
However, those performances haven’t done enough to convince Brazil manager Ramon Menezes, who has left him out of his first Selecao squad. Menezes replaced Tite earlier this year, after the latter failed to take the five-time winners into the latter stages of the World Cup.
Gabriel was a late omission from the squad in Qatar as well, but was expected to be included for the upcoming friendly with Morocco. But on Friday, it was confirmed the 25-year-old had been left out again, with PSG skipper Maquinhos, Robert Renan of Zenit and Real Madrid ’s Eder Militao preferred.
In a now deleted Twitter post, published shortly after the team was released, Gabriel teased his annoyance with a message which read “New job” along with a winking emoji and a basketball. Although he didn’t clarify the meaning of the short post, it seemed to imply he’d be better off trying his luck in a different sport.
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The Gunners star, who has still yet to be capped at senior level, made the trip to Qatar last winter, only to be one of Tite’s late cuts. “I was definitely sad. It’s normal for an athlete, even more so for having been in the group and then missing the last call-up,” he told ESPN Brasil.
“I had my family close by, and at Arsenal everyone talked to me. I have a strong mind and I’m a family person. I managed to digest that well, it’s part of football.
(Getty Images)
Gabriel has now deleted the post on Twitter“I’ll keep working and I know there are other World Cups ahead of me. I’ll work to be there.”But while his promise continues to go unnoticed on the international level, Arsenal moved quickly to ensure his long-term future remains in north London. The ex-Lille star signed a new contract in October of last year which will keep him at the club until 2027.
"I think when we look at a central defender we look at partnerships," Arteta said after the contract was signed. "I think Gabi has made William Saliba a better player and I think Willy helps him to be the same.
"A winning team needs to have a spine, play at a really high level and keep clean sheets. We are doing that a lot."
Aside from Gabriel, there is plenty of Premier League representation within the Brazil squad. Manchester City ’s Ederson is set to play with Alisson sitting the fixture out, while Emerson Royal and Renan Lodi from Tottenham and Nottingham Forest have both been selected,
In midfield, Joao Gomes of Wolves has earned his first call-up, where he will be able to learn off Manchester United talisman Casemiro. West Ham ’s Lucas Paqueta has also made the cut, while United star Antony and Spurs’ Richarlison are in, despite both suffering with patchy form since their respective summer moves.