Team selections for the Brazil national side have never been subject to undue influence, Brazil technical director Gilmar Rinaldi insists.
Brazil technical director Gilmar Rinaldi has denied allegations that there has ever been outside influence on the selection of the national team.
"Here at the CBF [Brazilian Football Confederation] we have 100 percent autonomy to do our work. We choose players that we want. Never in any moment has anyone suggested for us to choose any player," he said.
Reports in Brazil last month claimed that commercial and marketing partners held sway over which players were called up, but Rinaldi - whose team are at a training camp ahead of the Copa America - brushed off those suggestions.