Manchester United defender Rafael named among strong Brazil squad for Olympics

Manchester United defender Rafael (GETTY IMAGES)

Brazil have named Porto striker Hulk, Real Madrid full-back Marcelo and AC Milan centre-back Thiago Silva as their three over-age players for the London 2012 Olympics.

Manchester United defender Rafael and Tottenham midfielder Sandro have also been included by coach Mano Menezes in a strong-looking 18-man squad.

Twenty-five-year-old Hulk, who has scored three goals in 13 appearances for the senior side, was joined up front by Santos striker Neymar, AC Milan's Alexandre Pato and Internacional's Leandro Damiao.

Neymar, 20, whose club future has been the subject of almost constant speculation, has netted nine goals in 18 games for the senior team.

Brazil will be aiming to win their first Olympic football title and have been drawn in Group C along with Egypt, Belarus and New Zealand.

They play a warm-up friendly against Stuart Pearce's Great Britain side at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on July 20.

Brazil squad: Rafael Cabral (Santos), Neto (Fiorentina); Alex Sandro (Porto), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Rafael (Manchester United), Danilo (Porto), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Bruno Uvini (Sao Paulo), Juan (Inter Milan); Sandro (Tottenham), Romulo (Spartak Moscow), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos), Oscar (Internacional), Lucas Moura (Sao Paulo); Neymar (Santos), Leandro Damiao (International), Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Hulk (Porto).

PA