Chelsea in clash with Brazil over Olympics
THEY DON’T WANT HIM PLAYING IN TWO SUMMER TOURNAMENTS
CHELSEA are set to hold talks with the Brazil Football Confederation over plans to pick Willian for the Copa America and the Olympic Games this summer.
Willian has been Chelsea’s best player this season and is facing the possibility of a gruelling schedule, which will see him miss the start of the next Premier League campaign.
Tottenham are also in danger of being without four key men for at least the opening weekend in the top flight on August 13 bec ause of the f ootball tournament at the Olympics, which runs between August 4-20.
Clubs do not have to release squad members for the Games because it is played outside of FIFA’s calendar but the chance to represent and win a medal for their country will be difficult for many players to refuse.
That will particularly be the case for Chelsea’s Brazilian contingent, who have an oppor tunit y to claim the nation’s first ever Olympic gold in football on home soil.
Chelsea are concerned about Willian being involved in two intense competitions after already making 49 appearances for club and country this term.
FIFA rules dictate that clubs must release players for international duty outside of the Olympics, so the Blues cannot prevent Willian, or Chelsea team-mate Oscar, from playing at the Copa America in the USA.
Brazil’s first fixture is against Ecuador on June 5, with the final three weeks later.
Normally, that would still mean both players would get a lengthy break but the Olympics changes that, with the need to maintain fitness and join up with the squad before the men’s competition begins.
Rules dictate that three members of the 18-man squad can be over 23, which means Willian, who will turn 28 during the Games, plus 24-year-old Oscar can be asked to participate. Chelsea winger Ke n e dy an d at t a c k i n g mi df i e l d e r Nathan, who is on loan from the Blues at Vitesse Arnhem, are both 20 and may also feature.
It is understood the older trio Brazil currently favour to meet that over-23 quota includes Willian, as well as Barcelona star Neymar and Inter Milan defender Miranda.
Barcelona are already at risk of falling out with Neymar after president Jose Bartomeu insisted it would be “impossible” for the forward to play in both the Copa America and the Olympics for Brazil. However, Neymar’s agent