Kaka misses out on Brazil call-up

Real Madrid midfielder Kaka must continue to wait for a return to the Brazil national team after missing out on the squad to face France.

Kaka, 28, made his first appearance of the season for Real earlier in January after recovering from a serious knee injury.

Brazil meet France in Paris on February 9, but the match has arrived too soon for the former AC Milan midfielder, who has been eased back into action by La Liga title contenders Real.

Promising forward Neymar will not be part of the squad due to his involvement with the under-20 team, who are contesting the South American Youth Championship in Peru.

Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar has been selected for the first time under coach Mano Menezes, but his team-mates at the Serie A champions, Lucio and Maicon, missed out.

Two attacking midfielders – Bayer Leverkusen’s Renato Augusto and Shaktar Donetsk man Jadson – received their first call-ups, and there was a return to the squad for Dynamo Kyiv striker Andre, who made his debut in 2010.

With pre-season conditioning for the Brazilian championship underway, no home-based players were included in the squad.

Menezes, who took over from Dunga in July last year, believes there would be little point in selecting players midway through their domestic off season.

“Our players would suffer in the next games and would play rivals in a different form,” Menezes said.

“It is important for us to have the same form, the same physical condition.”

“Brazilian teams are playing Copa Libertadores matches the same day. Anyway, we are not going to France with a weak team at all.”