When Brazil manager Tite announced the list of players going to the World Cup, we first saw the celebrations of footballers who are in the squad, and now we start to read about the frustration from those who were left out.
One of them is Tottenham Hotspur fullback Emerson Royal, who despite having seven caps for the national team, was ignored this time.
It turns out the fight for his spot was won by Dani Alves, who’s failed to show a high level for years, and is now playing for Mexican side Pumas. He was the most controversial name on the list, which may frustrate his competitors further.
Despite being upset, Emerson Royal is calm, according to his father. Emerson Zulu, who also works as the player’s agent, was interviewed by Globo Esporte, and shared some details of the reaction the Tottenham footballer had after the call-up.
“We understand the choice for Dani because Tite has a good relationship with him. He is a winning player,” Emerson Zulu told Globo Esporte.
“You say that the past makes no difference? It does. He’s a winning guy who has Tite’s complete confidence. Emerson was upset because he wanted to be there, but the upset is for not being in the group. He wanted to be in the group.
“Tite doesn’t play with an advanced fullback, he plays the advanced on the left side and retreated on the right. So, he can use a defender over there on the right because he does the job he likes. Royal certainly does this function too. So, if Tite took Royal, he would also be supported as he is by Dani. We accept it because it’s taste.
“Royal is young. He has other good things to come in his life. I think that in this next cycle of the national team with the next coach he will definitely be among the 23. I believe that. So now it’s time to raise his head and work harder and harder to be at the next World Cup.”
Despite Emerson Royal’s appearances for Brazil in the past few years, he hadn’t been called up since January this year, so his absence from the World Cup is no big surprise. Like his father said, he now needs to show more at Tottenham to prove he deserves a spot in the future.
