Gabriel Magalhes, the central defender for Arsenal, has been one of the standout players in the Premier League. However, the 25-year-old was not chosen by coach Tite to be part of the squad for the World Cup in Qatar. The reason for his exclusion is quite unusual.
Juninho Paulista, former footballer for Atltico Madrid and former coordinator of the Brazilian national team, spoke in an interview with Globo Esporte about the Gunners’ defender. According to Juninho, Magalhaes lost his place in the ‘Canarinha’ after requesting permission to be present for the birth of his daughter in March 2022. The player ended up missing the matches against Chile and Bolivia in the last two rounds of the South American World Cup qualifiers.
“These are decisions. I’ve been through it. My child was born, I stayed in England waiting and the next day I came to Brazil because I had injured my knee and needed to recover as quickly as possible. My wife was there alone for 40 days, with the help of a nanny. Does that affect? When you weigh it all up, it’s inevitable. The other one comes, plays, and then you lose a bit of space,” Juninho explained.
On that occasion, Felipe, who was then a central defender for Atltico Madrid, was chosen to replace Magalhaes. For the World Cup, Militao, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, and Bremer formed the Brazilian defense.
In May 2022, the Arsenal player was called up again by Tite and commented on what had happened. The defender even thanked Tite and Juninho for allowing him to be released during the previous FIFA international break.
“When it comes to family, it’s very delicate. I was going to become a father for the first time, I was alone with my wife in London, it was difficult to leave her alone. She said she needed me, and it was a special moment for me. I contacted the national team staff, and they understood. So you see that it’s a family, I was happy with the response they gave me. I’m grateful to the coach, to Juninho. As I said, it’s a family group that not only thinks about the future but also what’s happening at the moment. It was a special moment for me,” said Magalhaes.
Since Tite’s departure, Gabriel Magalhes has yet to receive an opportunity with the Brazilian national team. For the first match after the World Cup, against Morocco in March of this year, the interim coach Ramon Menezes chose Ibaez (Roma), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), and Robert Renan (Zenit). The same four players were selected for the matches against Guinea and Senegal in June.
Should players be allowed to prioritize personal events over national team commitments?
And Argentina due to this absence.
Usually, players are given permission to be absent for significant family events, including the birth of a child. However, according to Juninho, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) did not approve Magalhaes’ request and considered it a lack of commitment to the national team.
Juninho expressed his disagreement with this decision, stating that it is a personal matter and should not affect a player’s chances of representing his country. He emphasized the importance of family and how it should take precedence over football.
Gabriel Magalhaes has been a key player for Arsenal since joining the club in 2020. His solid defensive performances and leadership qualities have earned him great recognition in the Premier League. Many were expecting him to be included in the Brazilian squad for the World Cup.
However, it seems that his absence during the qualifiers against Chile and Argentina has cost him his spot in the national team. It is indeed unfortunate to see a player’s commitment and dedication questioned for prioritizing a significant personal event.
Magalhaes’ exclusion from the Brazilian squad highlights a potential issue within the football world, where players are sometimes expected to put their national team above everything else. While representing their country is undoubtedly an honor, players should also be given the opportunity to prioritize their personal lives and be there for important family moments.
It remains to be seen how this decision will impact Magalhaes’ future with the Brazilian national team. Despite the setback, the 25-year-old defender will continue to shine for Arsenal and prove his worth on the field. Perhaps this exclusion will serve as motivation for him to work even harder and earn his place back in the national team in the future.
“Una sorprendente decisión que deja perplejos a los fanáticos del fútbol. Gabriel Magalhaes, a pesar de su buen desempeño en el Arsenal, ha sido excluido de la selección brasileña por una razón desconcertante. ¿Qué sucedió exactamente? Los aficionados merecen una explicación clara y justa.”
It’s quite unbelievable that Gabriel Magalhaes was excluded from the Brazilian national team for such a bizarre reason. This decision surely raises questions about the selection process and makes one wonder about the priorities of the Brazilian Football Confederation.