Bremer explains why he rejected Italy call-up

Juventus defender Gleison Bremer has revealed why he turned down the chance to play for the Italian national team, despite efforts from former Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini to convince him.

The Brazilian center-back explained that representing Italy never felt right to him  even though he was eligible for Italian citizenship through his wife.

“The idea was there,” Bremer said, “but I come from the heart of Bahia and suddenly becoming Italian felt very forced to me.”

Bremer confirmed that he spoke directly with Roberto Mancini, who tried to persuade him to join the Azzurri project. Mancini told him that he could get an Italian passport and become part of the national team setup.

However, Bremer admitted he felt uneasy about the idea.

“I even imagined the first day at the training camp — maybe someone would’ve asked me, ‘What are you doing here?’ And honestly, I wouldn’t have liked that.”

Instead, the defender remained loyal to his roots and opted to wait for a call-up from Brazil, which came in September 2022.

Since choosing Brazil, Bremer has made five appearances for the Seleção. While proud of his decision, he has faced stiff competition for a regular spot, with stars like Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) and Éder Militão (Real Madrid) ahead of him.

Injuries have also disrupted his chances to make more appearances for his country.

The 27-year-old joined Juventus in 2022 from city rivals Torino after being named the Best Defender in Serie A for the 2021–22 season.

Since then, he has become a regular figure in the Bianconeri defense and one of the most reliable defenders in Italy.

Despite having the option to change international allegiances, Bremer has no regrets about sticking with Brazil.

“It was a matter of identity and feeling at home. That’s why I made my choice,”.