Ancelotti shakes up Brazil squad with domestic surprises | OneFootball

Hugo Souza has been named in the preliminary squad selected by Carlo Ancelotti as Brazil prepare for June’s World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay. The Corinthians goalkeeper is among several domestic-based players included in Ancelotti’s first long-list for national team duty, with the initial list featuring around 50 names.

This provisional squad is an early step in Ancelotti’s managerial tenure with Brazil, ahead of his formal unveiling on June 2. The final list of 23 players will be made public on May 26 in Rio de Janeiro, following further evaluation by Ancelotti and his staff—including director Rodrigo Caetano and technical coordinator Juan, who helped assemble the squad during meetings in Madrid.

Notification of inclusion went out to clubs on Saturday, as mandated by FIFA rules, which require federations to request the release of players 15 days before the reporting date. Hugo Souza’s selection is notable for Corinthians, who have seen a strategy of squad rebuild and reliance on younger and lesser-established players emphasized in recent months.

Alongside Hugo Souza, the initial roster includes other local talents such as Danilo, Wesley, Léo Ortiz, Alex Sandro, Gerson, and Pedro from Flamengo, Fabrício Bruno from Cruzeiro, Oscar from São Paulo, and Neymar, currently at Santos. This signals Ancelotti’s intention to look closely at in-form players in Brazilian football, not just those already established in Europe.

Hugo Souza has emerged as a reliable option for Corinthians this season, contributing to the club’s recent defensive improvements amid a period of transition and a congested fixture calendar. His inclusion reflects the increased opportunities for standout performers in the domestic league to earn national team recognition under the new coaching regime.

The upcoming qualifiers—Ecuador away in Guayaquil on June 5 and Paraguay at the Neo Química Arena on June 10—will be a litmus test for Ancelotti’s approach and personnel choices. With the final 23-man squad set to be announced shortly, competition remains fierce, but Hugo Souza’s presence on the preliminary list highlights both his form and the growing reputation of Corinthians’ defensive corps.

Source: Globo