Lucas Moura has now opened up on his frustrations at not being called up to the Brazilian national team despite playing at a high level with Tottenham.
Moura was viewed as one of the most promising talents in Brazil during his Sao Paulo days and won his first cap for the Brazilian national team as a teenager back in 2011.
However, 31 of his 35 caps to date have before 2014, with the 27-year-old struggling to get back into the Brazilian squad in recent years during stints at PSG and Spurs.
Moura admitted his disappointment at missing out on the 2014 World Cup squad and revealed that he sometimes feels like a forgotten man.
Speaking to Globo Esporte (as relayed by Sport Witness), the Spurs star said: “With everything that happened in those years, at the 2014 World Cup I had a lot of hope of being called up because I was having a good time at PSG. We think.
“Even last year, everything happened in the Champions League, three goals, everyone talks, but the national team doesn’t come. It crosses your mind at times: no coaches like me? Is no one looking at me? Did they leave me aside? I’m not going to lie that this happens in the player’s mind.
“When you’re in a place like the Premier League, playing at a club that is always fighting among the first ones, standing out, playing the Champions League final and you end up not being remembered, you get this fear of what else you have to do to be remembered?
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“But at the same time, I understand and respect the decision of each coach. I know you have a lot of options to choose from. I have to keep fighting. Today I’m a much more mature guy, I can deal with disappointments well. I have to do my best. The chance to fulfil the dream of playing a World Cup is not to be discouraged.”
The pacey wide man also opened up on the difficulties he faced while initially adapting to the physicality of the Premier League, but admitted that he is enjoying playing in England.
Moura added: “I think the English (league) is very different. It’s the most competitive football in the world. I think it stands out for the intensity of the game and the tactical discipline, which is very high.
“Englishmen by nature are very competitive. Whatever the training they do, they want to win. The game is always with maximum intensity. I suffered a lot in the beginning with the physical part.
“The first preseason was very difficult. I think that stands out for this, in addition to technical quality, of having many players from different countries who come to play here for the beauty of the league and the purchasing power of the clubs.”
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Given that Brazil certainly haven’t been doing too well over the past decade or so, it is quite hard to fathom why Moura is being overlooked. However, having said that, Brazil still have some top forwards and wide players with the likes of Neymar, Coutinho, Richarlison, Jesus, Firmino, Willian, etc. Therefore, it is not going to be easy for Moura to get back into the squad, let alone the starting line up.
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