Brazil coach Mano Menezes: Copa America is Neymar’s priority

Brazil coach Mano Menezes has laid down the law over teenage star Neymar, stating that his Copa America squad had to take priority over both Santos and the U-20 team’s wishes.

The 19-year-old was by far the star of this year’s South American Youth Championships, finishing top scorer with nine goals and helping the Selecao lift the title. Menezes has already confirmed that the striker will be among the 22 players called up for the Copa America in July.

With the U-20 World Cup taking place just one month after the tournament however, the trainer was unequivocal in stating that the senior national team would take precedent over everything else, despite some reservations from the Peixe that their starlet was being overworked.

“The club think about the club, and the national squad about the national squad,” Menezes told reporters in Tuesday evening’s press conference.

“But there has to be some good sense, the priority is the main national squad. It is entirely possible that we will call someone up for the Copa and he will then not be taken to the World Cup.”

The ex-Corinthians tecnico will have the support of U-20 coach Ney Franco, who agreed with the decision despite the implications of taking a weakened squad to Colombia.

“I would like to take a full-force squad, but you have to act sensibly,” Franco said.

Menezes closed by assuring that the two friendlies he has scheduled in June – against Romania and the Netherlands – would be key in deciding his starting XI for the Copa.

“There could be a few changes, but I thing the base of our team will come from these two friendlies,” he concluded.

Brazil will be aiming to secure a third straight win at the Copa America and begin their campaign against Venezuela on July 3.