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Pereira, Arthur named in Brazil squad for friendlies
Rio de Janeiro, Aug 18 (IANS) Brazil coach Tite has included Manchester United’s Andreas Pereira and Barcelona’s Arthur Melo in a vastly changed squad for friendlies against the United States and El Salvador next month.
Flamengo playmaker Lucas Paqueta, Fluminense striker Pedro, Gremio winger Everton and Porto centre-back Felipe were among the other newcomers in Brazil’s 24-man squad announced on Friday, reports Xinhua news agency.
Teenage Flamengo goalkeeper Hugo Souza was also selected despite having never played for the Rio de Janeiro club’s first team.
But there was no place for Manchester City trio Gabriel Jesus, Fernandinho and Ederson while Real Madrid left-back Marcelo and Inter Milan centre-back Miranda were also left out.
Brazil face the United States in New Jersey on September 7 and El Salvador in Washington four days later.
The matches will be the team’s first since their 1-2 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Belgium in Russia last month.
Pereira’s selection comes just a week after he made his English Premier League (EPL) debut for Manchester United in a deep-lying midfield role.
The 22-year-old is also eligible to play for Belgium, the country of his birth but has publicly stated a preference for Brazil, where both his parents are from.
Tite said he plans to test as many young players as possible ahead of next year’s Copa America in Brazil and the start of the 2022 World Cup qualifying tournament later in 2019.
“It’s time to take a look at these players,” he told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro. “The players who missed out have their importance but now we are taking the opportunity to observe a new generation.”
Tite said Brazil’s World Cup elimination left a “bad taste” and defended star forward Neymar, who has been heavily criticised for apparent play-acting during the tournament.
“I’m not here to judge or conceptualize behaviours,” he said. “I’m not going to give my opinion about what people say, what the media reports. Neymar deserves praise for his behaviour, for his discipline.”
The 57-year-old reaffirmed his belief that Neymar is among the world’s top three players and insisted that Brazil’s No. 10 “has great potential to grow more.”
Brazil squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Hugo (Flamengo), Neto (Valencia)
Defenders: Alex Sandro (Juventus), Dede (Cruzeiro), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fagner (Corinthians), Felipe (Porto), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (Paris St Germain), Thiago Silva (PSG)
Midfielders: Andreas Pereira (Manchester United), Arthur,(Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo), Phillipe Coutinho (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan)
Forwards: Douglas Costa (Juventus), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Neymar (PSG), Pedro (Fluminense), Willian (Chelsea), Everton (Gremio).
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.