RIO DE JANEIRO, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Veteran midfielders Renato Augusto and Paulinho could return to Brazil's squad for 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia, head coach Tite said on Wednesday.
Both players have been absent from the national team since November 2018 but have pressed claims for a recall with their performances for Corinthians this year.
"There are places in the team for both, not only due to their name but because of the role they can play," Tite told news outlet TNT Sports.
"Renato Augusto is an extraordinary player. What counts is the team's performance and the growth potential it has, all those aspects. Paulinho can be used as a midfielder who can infiltrate in attacking areas along with [Lucas] Paqueta, [Roberto] Firmino, and [Philippe] Coutinho," he added.
Augusto, who played for Corinthians from 2013 to 2015, rejoined the Sao Paulo club last July after more than five years with Chinese Super League outfit Beijing Guoan.
Paulinho followed his close friend's lead in January when he also returned to the club he represented from 2010 to 2013 after leaving Guangzhou Evergrande.
Meanwhile, Tite indicated that he would call up uncapped midfielder Raphael Veiga, a key member of the Palmeiras side that has won the past two Copa Libertadores titles.
"Having players with the capacity to change the speed of the game, like Veiga can, is my way of saying that I'm watching closely [Brazilian football]," Tite said.
Brazil will play Chile at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium on March 24 and Bolivia in La Paz five days later. The five-time world champions lead the South American zone standings and have already qualified for football's showpiece tournament, to be played in Qatar from November 21 to December 18. ■
