Cafú Takes a Swipe at Neymar? Says Brazil No Longer Has Idols
Cafú is skeptical about Neymar being Brazil's idol and trusts that Endrick will thrive once he arrives at Real Madrid.
Former Brazilian full-back Marcos Evangelista de Moraes 'Cafú' believes that Endrick, future Real Madrid player, could become the "biggest hope" for the country to win another World Cup, alongside Vinícius Júnior.
"He could become our biggest hope, our biggest star, the greatest idol in the last ten years," said the Canarinha captain who won the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, in an interview released this Tuesday by the newspaper 'O Estado de S. Paulo.'
Cafú lamented that since Neymar's emergence, now 32, "Brazil has been orphaned of idols."
"We practically had no idols in almost any club, nor unanimous figures in the national team like Endrick, even though he's still a kid," he emphasized.
The former defender of Zaragoza, AC Milan, and Roma believes that the departure of the Palmeiras striker to Real Madrid, which will happen next July when he turns 18, "will do him very well" because he will find "established but young players" there, such as Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior.
"And he will have someone who will be very important for him: (Carlo) Ancelotti, who knows how to work with young talents," he praised.
The two-time world champion also praised Vinícius, stating that he "already makes a difference in the Brazilian national team, without a doubt."
In his opinion, the Madrid winger "is no longer a young promise; he is a reality," and his absence is strongly felt when he doesn't play with the national team.
"He's a player we have a lot of hopes for because of everything he does," he expressed.
When asked if Neymar, currently recovering in Brazil from a torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee, can still be important for the national team, Cafú said that only the Al-Hilal forward "can give that answer."
"He is a player with undeniable technical quality, surpasses any footballer, but he needs to be well, eager, and committed," he pointed out.