English media reported that Liverpool and Manchester City are not ready to release the Brazilian players in the World Cup qualifiers. As the country falls into the red zone of the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK, athletes will be required to perform a 10-day quarantine upon return and their teams will be embezzled.
With this, Liverpool, who had already prevented Mohamed Salah from playing the match between Egypt and Angola, which will be held in Cairo, did not release Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino. The club headed by Pep Guardiola will not allow Ederson and Gabriel Jesus to represent Brazil in duels against Chile, Argentina and Peru.
Premier League clubs have asked the British government to exempt athletes returning from countries considered to be in the red zone for Covid-19, but the request has not been granted. Thus, it is possible that other teams with athletes called up to compete in the South American qualifiers will follow the actions taken by Liverpool and Manchester City.
Brazil coach Tite remains at risk of losing four other players: Thiago Silva, of Chelsea, Richarlison, of Everton, Fred, of Manchester United, and Ravenha, of Leeds. With that said, the captain will have to call up 10 other athletes for the triple round of qualifying that will begin on September 2nd.
In cases like Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, Brazilian athletes can lose up to four matches with their clubs, including two in the Premier League, one in the Premier League Cup and the opening Champions League.
