Dani Alves to replace Neymar as Brazil captain at Copa America

Neymar will not captain Brazil during next month’s Copa America, with Dani Alves handed the armband for the showpiece South American tournament on home soil.

Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar was named permanent Brazil captain by head coach Tite in September 2018, however, he has been replaced by 36-year-old club and country team-mate Alves.

In a statement released on Monday, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said: “The decision was communicated to Neymar by Tite on Saturday.”

The announcement comes after a turbulent end to the season for Neymar at Ligue 1 champions PSG, where coach Thomas Tuchel has ruled out the former Barcelona star becoming captain.

Daniel Alves será o capitão da #SeleçãoBrasileira na Copa América. Boa sorte, craque! #JogaBola

Saiba mais em https://t.co/8JGEihDKZX

Foto: @lucasFigfoto / CBF pic.twitter.com/WVGf96pYDa

— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) May 27, 2019

Neymar – who scored 23 goals in all competitions this season after recovering from a foot injury – is set to serve a three-match ban for striking an opposition supporter after last month’s Coupe de France defeat against Rennes.

The 27-year-old also appeared to be weighed down by the burden of expectations on his shoulders during Brazil’s World Cup campaign last year as the Selecao lost in the quarter-finals.

Brazil are set to host the Copa America, with the eight-time champions – who failed to progress beyond the group stage in 2016 – drawn alongside Bolivia, Peru and Venezuela in Group A.

Tite’s Brazil will open the tournament against Bolivia in Sao Paulo on June 14.