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Oliveira enjoys Brazil call - Thursday 22 March, 2007

Milan striker Ricardo Oliveira could not hide his satisfaction after being included in Carlos Dunga’s Brazil squad.

The Rossonero had not initially been called-up for the matches with Chile and Ghana in Sweden, but will now replace Rafael Sobis, who’s knee injury has forced him to return to Betis.

The call-up follows the end of Oliveira’s sister’s kidnap, as the 35-year-old was found safe and well last week in Brazil after being abducted from her home in October and held for ransom.

“This is a very positive moment for me from a personal point of view,” the 26-year-old told the newspaper O Globo.

“This is a double joy for me, I am happy for Maria’s liberation and for the call-up for my national team. These past five months were very difficult, the worst in my entire life. I wasn’t able to work as I wanted.”

This is Oliveira’s second call-up since Dunga started to Coach the Selecao, after the friendly with Switzerland in November that ended with the South American side’s 2-1 win.

“This represents a new start for me, I am very happy and I can finally focus only on playing. This call-up is very special for me, it almost feels like the first one ever,” concluded the former Betis man.

(channel4.com)