Kaka earns Brazil recall

Real Madrid playmaker Kaka has been included in Brazil’s squad for the upcoming friendlies against Gabon and Egypt.

The 29-year-old has not featured for Brazil since his country crashed out of the World Cup finals in South Africa in July 2010.

Kaka has enjoyed a rise back to form this season at Real, and his involvement in the Spanish giants’ set-up has earned him his first-ever call-up under Brazilian manager Mano Menezes.

“I had always said, and he was aware of it, that if he returned to form and he started to play regularly again, he would return to the team,” Menezes told reporters.

“This is a good opportunity for that to happen.”

Menezes explained that the absence of players who compete in the Brazilian league is because the competition is reaching its closing stages.

Brazil travel to Libreville, Gabon, on November 10, while the match against Egypt will be played four days later in the Qatari city of Doha.

Brazil squad:

Goalkeepers: Neto (Fiorentina), Diego Alves (Valencia)

Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves, Adriano (both Barcelona), Alex Sandro (Porto), Fabio (Manchester United), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), David Luiz (Chelsea), Luisao (Benfica)

Midfielders: Dudu (Dynamo Kiev), Elias (Sporting, Portugal), Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk), Hernanes (Lazio), Kaka (Real Madrid), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich), Sandro (Tottenham), Bruno Casar (Benfica)

Forwards: Willian (Shakhtar Donetsk), Jonas (Valencia), Kleber, Hulk (both Porto)