“The result could have been different that night if I had been playing”

Even before you made your Brazil debut, people were talking about you playing for Selecao – Pele backed you to make the 2010 World Cup squad and14,000 Brazilians signed a petition for you to be included! Did you feel you were ready for that tournament? Was it a shock to be left out?

you always want to play in a World Cup, but 2010 was not my time. I accepted the decision of Dunga – it was not my time and maybe he was right. In 2014 I was a lot more mature, I was more ready and I had been working hard. I accepted the decision at the time and, looking back, I would say that I understand it.

Brazil went out in the quarter-finals to Netherlands in 2010 – do you think you would have made a difference if you’d have been playing?

always I think I have the ability to make a difference if I am playing, but it is impossible to say if the result would be any