Juninho reveals why THREE players - including Arsenal's Gabriel - were left out of Brazil's 2022 World Cup squad... citing 'attitude problems' and rejecting call-ups for the birth of children
- Gabriel Magalhaes chose to stay with his partner for the birth of his son in 2022
- Brazil fell short of expectations in Qatar with a quarter-final exit on penalties
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Juninho Paulista has lifted the lid on why three Brazil stars were left off the Selecao roster for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Brazil's dream of winning a sixth World Cup was made to wait for at least another cycle after a disappointing performance from the South American giants, who lost on penalties to Croatia in the quarter-finals.
Middlesbrough cult icon Juninho is now operating as a development director for his country's national team, and as such plays a key role in squad selections.
In an interview with Brazilian outlet GE, he revealed why certain players were left out of the squad entirely - with Gabriel Magalhaes' absence in particular having raised a few eyebrows.
The defender had been a crucial part of an Arsenal side who sat top of the Premier League at the time of the World Cup break, yet had not won favour with the higher-ups at Brazil despite his form.
![Juninho has explained why three Brazil players were left out of their 2022 World Cup squad](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/12/09/73118419-12290049-Juninho_has_explained_why_he_did_not_pick_three_players_for_Braz-m-19_1689151568202.jpg)
Juninho has explained why three Brazil players were left out of their 2022 World Cup squad
![The Selecao were dumped out in the quarter-final despite being tipped as one of the favourites](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/12/09/73120507-12290049-image-a-20_1689151695240.jpg)
The Selecao were dumped out in the quarter-final despite being tipped as one of the favourites
![Gabriel Magalhaes was left out of the squad despite his Arsenal leading the Premier League](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/12/08/73118381-12290049-image-a-12_1689147796373.jpg)
Gabriel Magalhaes was left out of the squad despite his Arsenal leading the Premier League
Juninho, though, admitted issues first arose with Gabriel when he decided to stay at home with his partner for the birth of their first child, Maya, rather than join up with the Selecao seven months before the tournament, at which point his place was taken in the squad.
'These are choices. I went through it. My son was born, I was waiting in England and the next day I came to Brazil because I had injured my knee and needed to recover as quickly as possible,' he explained.
'My wife stayed there for 40 days alone, with the help of a nanny. Did it hurt? When it comes to weighing you will put everything on the scale and it is inevitable, you will put everything on the scale. The other one comes, plays and then it happens to lose a little space.'
Gabriel was not the only absentee from the squad who was expected to feature in Qatar, with Zenit St. Petersburg pair Malcom and Claudinho also missing the cut.
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As with the Arsenal centre back, Juninho admitted that the decision to leave them out was not one born of on-pitch form but for goings-on off it.
When Brazil were due to take on Chile in a World Cup qualifier in 2021, the pair had been called up to the squad, only for their Russian club to ask for permission to bring them back home for a Champions League clash.
Juninho explained that with Zenit threatening to cancel the players' contracts, they decided against featuring for their country, which he viewed as a problem with their attitudes.
'I'll speak for myself I didn't like their attitude,' he said. 'I told them that. I understand the situation, but I spoke to them and their manager.'
![Juninho says problems with Gabriel first arose when he asked to attend the birth of his daughter, Maya, instead of playing for Brazil seven months before the tournament](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/12/10/73120667-12290049-Juninho_says_problems_with_Gabriel_first_arose_when_he_asked_to_-a-22_1689152651639.jpg)
Juninho says problems with Gabriel first arose when he asked to attend the birth of his daughter, Maya, instead of playing for Brazil seven months before the tournament
![Malcom (left) and Claudinho (right) were under threat of having their contracts at Zenit terminated if they did not return from international duty, according to Juninho](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/12/08/73118659-12290049-image-a-13_1689148189883.jpg)
Malcom (left) and Claudinho (right) were under threat of having their contracts at Zenit terminated if they did not return from international duty, according to Juninho
![Malcom has since been called up to the Brazil squad and featured against Guinea in a friendly](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/12/08/73118667-12290049-image-a-14_1689148194268.jpg)
Malcom has since been called up to the Brazil squad and featured against Guinea in a friendly
'The leaders (of Zenit) were pressing a lot, they were very firm with the two athletes, they took them very hard, with the two, even (in a) inhuman way, even threatening to terminate the contract, strong things.
'There was a lot of pressure on them, but I was upset with the decision to give up the Brazilian team.'
Since the end of the World Cup in December 2022, the absences have continued for both Claudinho and Gabriel, who are still yet to be called up to the side.
Malcom, however, has made two appearances against Guinea and Senegal in Brazil's round of international friendlies at the end of the 2022-23 season, playing 65 minutes and assisting Vinicius Jnr's goal in the 4-1 win over Guinea.
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