Fitness issues are the real reason behind Aston Villa star Philippe Coutinho’s surprise absence from the latest Brazil squad.
That’s according to UOL, who cover the player’s omission today and why manager Tite is likely to have made the decision.
The Aston Villa man was one of three surprise names left out of Tite’s squad for the upcoming international break yesterday alongside Gabriel Jesus and Dani Alves.
The Brazil boss has since explained his choice and how he wants to look at other players and UOL follow that up today.
That’s why them being left out was such a surprise but the newspaper says with the Aston Villa man it may be down to the ‘physical aspect.’
They explain that Coutinho is yet to play a full game this season, despite starting four of Villa’s seven games so far, and this has been down to ‘cramps’.
That’s been noted by Brazil and Tite has decided to look at other options for this break, perhaps in the hope Coutinho can sort out his issues in the meantime.
It seems, then, this omission was nothing to do with Coutinho’s form, which hasn’t been great either, but a fitness issue that Brazil have picked up on in his games for Aston Villa this season.
