Chelsea take steps to rescue Ramires' Brazil career

Chelsea have confirmed a Ramires groin injury today. But don't worry, Blues fans, it's nothing to get worked up about, because said injury happened back in March. Said groin injury caused him to miss a couple of weeks and two Brazil friendlies, but doubt over whether the it was real apparently caused something of a to-do in Brazil -- to the point where Ramires wasn't selected for the Confederations Cup.

Here's the Blues' statement:

Contrary to media reports, Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Ramires was not available to play for Brazil in friendly matches against Russia and Italy in March of this year due to injury.

The left adductor muscle injury was confirmed following an MRI scan and he underwent treatment at Chelsea FC's medical department from March 17 to March 28.

Throughout this time information was relayed to the Brazilian national team doctor in the usual way and the treatment was agreed between the club and national team.

However, Chelsea FC would like to apologise that it was not made clear when Ramires would be able to report back to the national squad.

-Chelsea spokesman.

Why release that statement now? It's probably something to do with what Brazilian football bigwig José Maria Marin (a man whose speeches imply that he's big on torturers) said the other day. Namely that Ramires wasn't committed enough:

The national team's doors are open to all Brazilian players as long as they are fully committed since when they get called up. The attitude on and off the pitch is the key. There was a player that gave priority to having dinner instead. I won't name him, but his wife even said the national team is a mafia because he was not called up again.

-Source: Sambafoot.

Have I mentioned the role in a military dictatorship thing? And the torture? Excluding Ramires over form is one thing, doing it over his attitude is quite another. He's almost the last player on the squad that I'd expect not to give everything he has, especially for the Selecao, and I can only imagine what a big blow it is to be exiled from his national team. Brazil are a weird confederation, so there's no guarantee that Chelsea's statement makes any difference, but for Ramires' sake, let's hope it does.