Brazil manager Dorival Júnior has singled out Brighton and Hove Albion striker João Pedro for praise after including him in his squad for the upcoming international break.
[ESPN Brasil cover comments](https://www.espn.com.br/futebol/selecao-brasileira/artigo/_/id/14879297/dorival-prioriza-pontas-lista-selecao-fala-montar-time-sem-centroavante-todos-sabem-fazer-gol) from the Brazil boss today made in his press conference as he announced his squad for the games against Colombia and Argentina.
Pedro is part of the group of forwards picked by the Dorival Júnior which includes some big names, including Real Madrid duo Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr, Barcelona’s Raphinha and Manchester City’s Savinho alongside rising star Estêvão.
It’s a deserved place for the Brighton star, who has seven goals and seven assists in 23 games in all competitions this season.
The 23-year-old has been shining for the Seagulls since joining from Watford in a €34.2m deal back in 2023, with 27 goals and 10 assists in 63 games to date.
He’s yet to get his chance for the Brazilian national team, though, with just one appearance to date under Fernando Diniz back in November 2023.
The current group lacks a proper number nine, though, so the opportunity is there and Dorival Júnior was certainly full of praise for the Brighton striker when announcing his squad.
“If we look at each name, João Pedro played that role (number 9),” he said.
“He has an interesting profile, he floats and projects, he has a considerable number of goals. He has already played that role. I want movement, mobility, without too much positioning. That would be fundamental.
“Regardless of the names that take to the field, we will have defining men. All the names here know how to score goals. We need a change in behaviour. Attacking spaces, that is fundamental. The great teams in world football do not have a professional name and still have considerable numbers of goals.”