Atletico Madrid left-back Filipe Luis believes that Brazil’s squad is the hardest to get into in the world.
Despite being a regular under Diego Simeone at Atletico, the 28-year-old is not currently in Selecao boss Luiz Felipe Scolari’s plans for the World Cup.
However, the former Deportivo La Coruna player insists he is not too disheartened by the snub from Scolari, given Brazil’s strength in depth in the full-back department.
“The Brazil team is the most difficult in the world to get called up for,” Filipe Luis told ESPN Radio.
“Here in Spain we have Jordi Alba of Barcelona, [Nacho] Monreal of Arsenal and Alberto Moreno of Sevilla. On the right there is [Cesar] Azpilicueta, [Alvaro] Arbeloa and Juanfran.
“In Brazil, by contrast, we can easily talk about 10 on the left and 10 on the right without opening up the book.”
Filipe Luis has only won four caps since making his international debut in 2009, but he accepts that he is competing against some of the world’s best players to pull on the Selecao shirt.
"Marcelo, for me, is the best full-back in the world,” he said. “Just watching him train, I learned a lot. Maxwell was world champion too. I could not put myself in front of anyone.”
Filipe Luis also touched on Atletico teammate Diego Costa’s decision to opt to play for Spain instead of Brazil, despite being born in the South American country and having already represented the Selecao in a handful of friendlies.
The defender is adamant that he would never have made the same choice and switched allegiance, amid reports that he turned down the opportunity to represent Spain in 2010.
“One call-up for the Brazil national team is worth 20 for any other country,” he said.