Brazilian footballer Neymar juggles with the ball during a training session ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, at the Granja Comary sports complex in Teresopolis, about 90 km from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 19, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / VANDERLEI ALMEIDA
Brazil’s Olympic coach admitted on Tuesday that he was relying on Barcelona star forward Neymar to shoot the hosts to a first Games gold in Rio next month.
Current under-20s coach Rogerio Micale has been charged with rejuvenating Brazilian football in Rio after Dunga was fired following Brazil’s shock first-round exit from the Copa America.
“I want to be dependent on Neymar,” he said, as the squad went through its first training session for the Rio Games.
“What coach in the world would not want a Neymar in his team? They say it’s not good to be dependent on Neymar, but I do not agree: I would always have a Neymar in my team.”
Micale’s stance is in stark contrast Dunga, who had tried to suggest the Brazilian side was not a one-man team.
The Games start on August 5.
Tite will take over the Selecao after the Olympics.