New Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has stirred headlines by leaving Neymar Jr. out of his first squad announcement for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. However, the Italian tactician made it clear that this exclusion is not permanent—rather, it’s a strategic decision aimed at allowing Neymar to fully recover.

After departing Real Madrid, Ancelotti took charge of the Brazilian national team and unveiled his squad for the qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay. Neymar was noticeably absent, but Ancelotti’s message was clear: Neymar remains an important part of his long-term vision.

Though Neymar recently returned to the pitch following a lengthy injury layoff, he has yet to regain full match fitness or his trademark consistency. Citing these reasons, Ancelotti chose to give the star forward some rest.

“In this squad, I’ve selected players who are fully fit and currently in good form,” Ancelotti said during a press conference. “We all know Neymar’s quality, and we trust him. But he’s just returned from injury and needs time.”

Neymar’s recent period off the field has also been marked by personal controversies and professional challenges. Despite returning to his boyhood club Santos and showing signs of revival, the Brazilian coach believes the best version of Neymar is yet to come—and wants to avoid rushing his comeback.

Most importantly, Ancelotti emphasized that leaving Neymar out of the current squad doesn’t mean excluding him from future plans. In fact, he sees Neymar as a key asset for Brazil’s World Cup campaign.

With a fresh coaching staff and a squad featuring promising young talent, Brazil is entering a new chapter. Whether Neymar will shine in this era remains to be seen—but his coach’s faith in him is unwavering.