The Blancos will have to deal with the absence of four first-team players in their next match.
Brazil will play two World Cup qualifiers during the current international break. The Selecao will travel to Ecuador on Thursday before hosting Paraguay on February 1.
The second game comes only two days before Real Madrid’s battle against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. The La Liga leaders requested Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to release their players before the end of the international break. However, despite having already qualified for the World Cup, the Selecao have refused to release the players.
Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Casemiro, and Eder Militao will stay at Brazil’s camp until February 2, when the international break ends.
“We are not going to release the players,” CBF director Juninho told Spanish radio show El Larguero (via AS).
“The players have to be with us until the end of the FIFA period, on February 2. Depending on how they play the first match [we will] discuss whether or not they play the second.
“They will be with us until the end. We are not willing to release them, We have had requests from other clubs.
“It is only a few days. We must take advantage of this year now that the preparation for the World Cup has begun.”
The four Brazil internationals will most likely return for Real Madrid’s match against Granada on February 6.
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