West Ham United fans were surprised to see new star Felipe Anderson left out of the latest Brazil squad.
Selecao coach Tite has snubbed West Ham attacker Anderson despite an impressive start to life in the Premier League.
The Hammers endured a tough opening month losing four consecutive Premier League games.
But Anderson – who has one cap for Brazil – was one of few bright spots during that spell and has starred in their recent revival with his brilliant all-round play and even scored a superb backheel in a 3-1 victory over Manchester United.
It was not enough to force his way into Tite’s squad, though, much to the disappointment of West Ham fans who want to be able to say they have a Brazil international in their side.
Other players have been selected despite barely playing for their club sides or playing in vastly inferior leagues.
Arthur of Barcelona has featured just four times this season while Manchester United’s Fred, Renato Augusto of Beijing Guoan and Wallace of Hannover also made it in ahead of Anderson.
That’s despite the Hammers star being backed by good friend Neymar and Brazil legend Rivaldo to be a star for club and country.
Now self-styled South American football expert Tim Vickery has explained exactly why Anderson is being overlooked.
Vickery, a freelance English football journalist who has lived in Brazil since 1994, is the South American football correspondent for outlets such as BBC Sport, ESPN and talkSPORT.
And he said there is hope for Anderson yet.
“(Anderson) failed at Under-20 level,” Vickery said on Twitter.
“(He) has been inconsistent and there’s lots of competition.
“But keep it up and he’s in the mix.”
That bodes well for West Ham as Anderson has a strong incentive to keep producing the goods for the East Londoners, who have a double header against fierce rivals Tottenham looming large.
Brazil will meet Saudi Arabia at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia on Friday before facing old foes Argentina at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on Tuesday.
The Brazil squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Man City), Phelipe (Gremio).
Centre-backs: Marquinhos (PSG), Miranda (Inter), Pablo (Bordeaux), Eder Militao (Porto).
Full-backs: Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Man City), Fabinho (Liverpool), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid).
Midfielders: Arthur (Barcelona), Casermiro (Real Madrid), Fred (Manchester United), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Wallace (Hannover).
Forwards: Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Malcom (Barcelona), Neymar (PSG), Richarlison (Everton), Lucas Moura (Tottenham).
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