Brazil’s World Cup squad features 12 Premier League players (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Former Chelsea star Ramires has named who he thinks is the best Brazilian player in the Premier League right now.
Brazil are the favourites to lift the 2022 World Cup having made it to the quarter-final stage without too much hassle and they boast perhaps the best and most well-rounded squad in Qatar.
12 of the 26 squad members currently ply their trade in the Premier League for some of the biggest teams including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Picking just one standout player is near-impossible given just how many world-class players they have including goalkeepers Alisson and Ederson, captain Thiago Silva and forwards Antony and Gabriel Martinelli.
Nevertheless, Ramires, who was capped 54 times by Brazil, thinks that there is one player who has a slight edge on his teammates: United defensive midfielder Casemiro.
The former midfielder, speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes at the launch of their World Cup Free-To-Play Halftime Quiz, said: ‘I have so many Brazilian friends still playing in the Premier League so it’s very hard to pick a standout player.
‘There are a lot of young boys coming through who are right up there for me. A lot of players are so important for their teams but maybe play a different role for the national team.
‘The likes of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Antony have been incredible so far this season.
‘I feel like my back is literally against a wall when I’m being asked to pick a standout player, because there are so many talented Brazilians in England right now.
‘But, for me, one player who has made the most impact is Casemiro. He is solid, and he’s a great addition, not only to Manchester United, but to the Premier League as well.’
The 30-year-old moved to Old Trafford for £60million over the summer from Real Madrid where he was highly successful, winning three La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues.
He has been a fantastic addition to Erik ten Hag’s team so far and is a crucial part of Brazil’s World Cup campaign having started three of their four matches o far, the exception being the dead rubber defeat to Cameroon.
Casemiro will almost certainly be in Tite’s starting XI for their quarter-final clash on Friday against Croatia.
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World Cup 2022: your FAQs answered
Brazil have 12 Premier League players in their World Cup squad.
