Brazil midfielder Renato Augusto has withdrawn from the Seleção squad for friendlies against the USA and El Salvador this month, citing ‘personal reasons.’
It is not clear what the personal reasons relate to, but Renato, who plays for Beijing Guoan in China, will not report for duty.
Tite will not call up a replacement for the 30 year old midfielder having selected 24 players for the September friendlies.
Tite has called up a number of new faces as CONMEBOL enters a new cycle without competitive games until June’s Copa América in Brazil.
Augusto, one of Tite’s most trusted squad members, is one of the mainstays who has been retained for this experimental squad.
The likes of João Miranda, Filipe Luis, Gabriel Jesus and Casemiro have been spared on this occasion as Tite looks to the future.
Augusto’s withdrawal has sparked speculation about a possible retirement from international duty, given that the player will be 34 by the time of the next World Cup in Qatar.
He recently lost his place in the starting XI with Philippe Coutinho moved back into a central midfield position at his expense.
