Brazil manager Tite has defended his decision to select 39-year-old right-back Dani Alves in his 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup after receiving some negative comments on social media.
Alves will become the oldest player to represent the five-time world champions in Qatar, surpassing the record set by legendary right-back Djalma Santos who was 37 years old at the 1966 World Cup.
Alves, who is the most decorated footballer of all-time with 46 trophies at club level, will be competing at his third World Cup for Brazil having previously worn the famous yellow jersey at the 2010 and 2014 tournaments.
The former Barcelona right-back, who currently plies his trade with Mexican side UNAM Pumas, was an injury doubt prior to Tite's squad announcement on Monday afternoon, as he has not played for over a month due to a knee injury.
Many on social media have questioned Alves's inclusion in the final 26-man squad, but Tite is not concerned by the negative feedback and insists that the experienced defender has many qualities that will be invaluable to his side in Qatar.
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Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Tite said: "I didn't come here to please people on Twitter, which I don't even know what percentage of the Brazilian people represents.
"I respect differing opinions and I'm not here to convince everyone. I just want to give information so that people democratically form their own opinion. Now, everyone has their opinion and everyone has my respect.
"[Alves] adds technical and tactical aspects that are impressive, to be an organiser, an articulator. Sure he is not a 60 to 70 metres player anymore, but he has other virtues.
"The criteria awards his technical quality, but mental and physical aspects too."
Alves, who has not played for Pumas since the end of September, has recently been training with Barcelona to build up his fitness, and Brazil team doctor Fabio Mahseredjian has confirmed that the right-back will be ready in time for the tournament in Qatar.
"We have been following his recovery from up close and all the data that we have from Barcelona doctors show that he is fit to play," Mahseredjian told reporters.
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Alves missed the 2018 World Cup in Russia due to injury, but he is one of only three players in Tite's squad, along with Thiago Silva and Neymar, who were present at the 2014 World Cup held in his native Brazil.
The right-back has won 124 international caps for the Selecao and he is just one appearance away from drawing level with legendary left-back Roberto Carlos as the nation's second-most capped player in history – Cafu is Brazil's most-capped footballer for the men's team after making 142 appearances.
Tite's squad is predominantly built up with players based at European clubs, including a record total of 12 Premier League stars, although Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino is one notable absentee from the final squad.
Injured playmaker Philippe Coutinho, Gabriel Magalhaes, Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Barbosa, Renan Lodi and Roger Ibanez have also not made the cut, but Arsenal's 21-year-old attacker Gabriel Martinelli, who has just three international caps to his name, has been selected and is the youngest member of Tite's squad.
Brazil – who are bidding to become world champions for the first time since 2002, will face Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G of this year's tournament and will begin their campaign with an opening fixture against the former on November 24.
Oliver Thomas
