Kaká Recalled to Brazil Squad

An agonising wait for one of Brazil's most recognisable stars has come to an end today, with the news that Kaká has been recalled to the Brazil squad. After 15 months in the international wilderness, the Real Madrid schemer has been included in Mano Menezes' seleção for the forthcoming friendlies against Gabon (November 10th) and Egypt (November 14th). Interestingly, Menezes has refrained from picking domestically-based players, as the Brazilian league season reaches its final stages.


The full squad is as follows;

Neto (Fiorentina)
Diego Alves (Valencia)

Daniel Alves (Barcelona)
Fábio da Silva (Manchester United)
Marcelo (Real Madrid)
Alex Sandro (Porto)
Thiago Silva (Milan)
David Luiz (Chelsea)
Luisão (Benfica)

Lucas (Liverpool)
Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich)
Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur)
Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Elias (Sporting Lisbon)
Hernanes (Lazio)
Bruno César (Benfica)
Kaká (Real Madrid)
Willian (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Dudu (Dynamo Kiev)

Hulk (Porto)
Jonas (Valencia)
Kléber (Porto)

With no Neymar, Ronaldinho, Leandro Damião or Fred, then, a number of attackers have earnt maiden call-ups. Willian, who has impressed in the Champions League with Shakhtar Donetsk, joins the squad for the first time, as does Bruno César. The former Corinthians man has been among the goals for Benfica of late. A couple of youngsters have also been selected by Menezes; leftback Alex Sandro (Porto) and livewire attacker Dudu (Dynamo Kiev) both make the step up to the full seleção having impressed at U20 level.

In goal, one of Diego Alves and the (relatively) inexperienced Neto will be handed the chance to impress, with Júlio César and Jefferson not selected on this occasion. It seems likely that Hulk will continue to lead the line in attack, unless Menezes springs a major surprise by starting with one of Jonas or Kléber. The headlines, though, will rightly be hogged by Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, the softly-spoken galã (heartthrob) of the Brazilian game. The whole country will be behind him as he dons the golden jersey for the 83rd time.

(Photo credit; Dani Cardona/Reuters.)