Brazil's Olympic team boss explains Dani Alves call-up

38-year-old Dani Alves was a surprise inclusion in Brazil’s football team for the 2020 Olympics this summer.

Brazil’s manager for the Olympics, Andre Jardine, believes Dani Alves’ leadership qualities and experience will prove a valuable asset for the team.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain full-back will take part in the Olympics for the first time in his career aged 38. He is one of three overaged players in Brazil’s squad. The other two are Club Athletico Paranaense goalkeeper Santos (31) and Sevilla defender Diego Carlos (28).

Martinelli called up by Brazil for the Olympics. So he joins Gabriel in the squad and will miss pre-season and you would think at least the first week of the PL season (if Brazil go far).

Olympic final is on August 7th, six days before the Brentford game. pic.twitter.com/tJWAFclydg

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) July 3, 2021

In fact, Alves is only three years younger than Jardine. But the head coach, who leads the U-23 and U-20 Brazilian national squads, believes the Sao Paulo man will prove his worth in Tokyo.

“He is a leader, a winner. He has a lot of charisma and he is very respected by all the Brazilian players,” said Jardine as per Marca.

“He is a great example for this generation of players that we have.

“And, curiously, he has never competed in the Olympic games, so we think it is the perfect marriage. He is going to be an example to the squad and a leader on the pitch.

“And if we think of the player with excitement to become a champion. He has a rich history of titles.”

Indeed, Alves has done superbly well in his career. The veteran has won a record 39 trophies, including two Copa America titles and FIFA Confederations Cups with the Brazil national team.

He now heads to Japan hoping to add an Olympic gold medal to his list of honors.