Flamengo criticise Brazil naming Pedro to Olympic squad | OneFootball

Despite Flamengo not planning to release Pedro, Brazil named the player to their Olympic squad for Tokyo 2020 resulting in criticism from the club.

As a result of the decision, Luiz Eduardo Baptista, Flamengo’s vice-president of external relations, took to Twitter to share his frustrations with the CBF’s decision.

“Olympics is not a FIFA date. PSG denies Marquinhos and Neymar, CBF accepts. Palmeiras denies Weverton, CBF accepts,” read the tweet.

“Flamengo denies Pedro, CBF summons him. Who works for clubs? More of the same. Call now.”

Brazil’s youth team coordinator, Branco, however, justified the decision during a media call on Thursday.

“We work and have always worked on this project aiming at the technical issue. Flamengo has one position and we technically have another,” he said.

“Pedro is an important player in the Olympic process, in the Japan process. A player who in the last two games scored 3 goals. Spectacular player.”

“He has a huge desire to defend Brazil. Our mentality is to choose the best and Pedro is among the best players in Brazil right now.”

The 23-year-old attacker scored the winner in Flamengo’s opening-day Brasileirão win over Palmeiras.