RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Barcelona star Neymar has been left off Brazil’s squad for the Copa America, which will be played in the United States next month.
Brazil’s coach Dunga accepted the Catalan club’s request to use the striker either at the Copa America or at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August - and the Olympics won.
Dunga’s squad, named on Thursday, includes seven players under the age of 23 - all of whom will be eligible for the Rio games.
Dunga says “We are bringing a competitive team for an important tournament.”
Brazil is in Group B with Ecuador, Haiti and Peru and starts its campaign on June 4 against the Ecuador in Pasadena, California.
The competition, which is celebrating its centenary, will take place for the first time outside of South America.
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Squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Internacional), Diego Alves (Valencia) and Ederson (Benfica).
Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Fabinho (Monaco), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Douglas Santos (Atletico Mineiro), Miranda (Inter Milan), Gil (Shandong Luneng), Marquinhos (Paris Saint Germain), Rodrigo Caio (Sao Paulo).
Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Elias (Corinthians), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Rafinha (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Lucas Lima (Santos) and Willian (Chelsea).
Forwards: Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich), Hulk (Zenit), Ricardo Oliveira (Santos) and Gabriel (Santos).