Moledo earns Brazil call-up

Rodrigo Moledo of Internacional (Getty Images)

Rio de Janeiro, April 20 (IANS): Internacional centre-back Rodrigo Moledo has been given his first Brazil call-up by coach Luiz Felipe Scolari for next week’s football friendly against Chile.

Moledo replaces former Racing Santander defender Henrique, whose club Palmeiras have been drawn to play Tijuana in the Copa Libertadores the following day, reports Xinhua.

“In light of the importance of the game to Palmeiras, we have released Henrique and given an opportunity to Rodrigo Moledo,” Brazil’s Football Confederation (CBF) said in a statement Friday.

Moledo, 25, has played 81 matches for Internacional since arriving at the Brazilian top-flight club from Uniao Rondonopolis in 2011.

The April 24 friendly at Belo Horizonte’s Mineirao World Cup stadium will feature South American-based players only because it is a non-FIFA date.

The match will be the last chance for Brazil’s players to impress Scolari before he picks his squad for the FIFA Confederations Cup in June, considered a warm-up for the 2014 World Cup.