Brazil have called up Belgium-born Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira for an Under-20 World Cup warm-up tournament in Austria next month.
Pereira, whose parents are both Brazilian, was among 20 players named by Brazil's football federation on Saturday for Under-20 friendlies against Cameroon, Qatar and Honduras, reports Xinhua.
The 19-year-old has made just one appearance for Brazil during last year's under-20 Panda Cup tournament in China. He has represented Belgium at Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 level.
Pereira's inclusion comes amid concerns in Brazil about a drain of talent to international rivals. Among Brazil-born players to have switched their allegiance in the past decade are Diego Costa (Spain), Thiago Alcantara (Spain), Pepe (Portugal), Thiago Motta (Italy) and Rodrigo (Spain).
Brazil Under-20 coach Alexandre Gallo also included Real Madrid forward Jean Carlos, Marseille midfielder Alef and Cagliari striker Caio Rangel in his squad for the friendlies.
The team will confront Cameroon in Pasching on April 10, Qatar in Salzburg on April 13 and Honduras in Pasching on April 16.
The Under-20 World Cup will be played in New Zealand from May 30 to June 20.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
