The possibility of Atlético Mineiro striker Lucas Pratto representing Brazil in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers has been raised since last week.
The player revealed to Argentine media that he would analyze the possibility of representing the Brazilian national team if the opportunity arrives. According to the regulations of FIFA, even if Pratto manages to attain Brazilian citizenship, he wouldn"t be eligible to play for the country before 2020, when he"d eventually complete five years in Brazil. Pratto does not have a biological Brazilian mother or father, or ancestors born in Brazil. As mentioned in Globo Esporte, the process to become a naturalized Brazilian can be started as early as 2016, and Pratto"s agent and lawyer are analyzing it. Brazilian law provides a minimum of four years of residence in the country before obtaining citizenship, but in accordance with Article 113 of the Law 6815 of 1980, this period may be reduced, limited to only one year stay in Brazil. However, this naturalization under four years in Brazil is not easy and very rare to happen.
Pratto said: “I will always be Argentine. Obviously, when you hear that you"re wanted and has the ability to play for the national team, you start to think. It"s [naturalization] for my personal life, not so much for my future in the national team. My family can get a passport. We always want to play in our national team, but it is very difficult for coach of Argentina to look to Brazil. Now, it"s too early, and I just think about Atlético Mineiro."
The possibility of Atlético Mineiro striker Lucas Pratto representing Brazil in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers has been raised since last week.
The player revealed to Argentine media that he would analyze the possibility of representing the Brazilian national team if the opportunity arrives. According to the regulations of FIFA, even if Pratto manages to attain Brazilian citizenship, he wouldn"t be eligible to play for the country before 2020, when he"d eventually complete five years in Brazil. Pratto does not have a biological Brazilian mother or father, or ancestors born in Brazil. As mentioned in Globo Esporte, the process to become a naturalized Brazilian can be started as early as 2016, and Pratto"s agent and lawyer are analyzing it. Brazilian law provides a minimum of four years of residence in the country before obtaining citizenship, but in accordance with Article 113 of the Law 6815 of 1980, this period may be reduced, limited to only one year stay in Brazil. However, this naturalization under four years in Brazil is not easy and very rare to happen.
Pratto said: “I will always be Argentine. Obviously, when you hear that you"re wanted and has the ability to play for the national team, you start to think. It"s [naturalization] for my personal life, not so much for my future in the national team. My family can get a passport. We always want to play in our national team, but it is very difficult for coach of Argentina to look to Brazil. Now, it"s too early, and I just think about Atlético Mineiro."
