---
title: "Willian set to miss start of Chelsea pre-season"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2019/06/08/willian-set-to-miss-start-of-chelsea-pre-season/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Turk"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2019-06-08T10:36:57Z"
modified: "2019-06-08T10:36:58Z"
---

# Willian set to miss start of Chelsea pre-season

Chelsea forward Willian looks set to be absent for the start of pre-season after being named as an emergency call-up to Brazil’s Copa America squad.

Manager Tite has called on the 30-year-old to replace Neymar at the summer tournament following the Paris Saint-Germain star’s devastating ankle injury.

Neymar reluctantly withdrew from the hosts’ squad on Thursday and Willian was announced as his replacement on Friday, inheriting the no. 10 shirt.

> Twitter: OFFICIAL:
>
> Willian has been called up to the 2019 Copa America. He will replace Neymar and take his number 10 shirt. https://t.co/Tei31nAN0p (@BrazilEdition3)

Brazil are one of the tournament favourites and if they reach the final on July 7, Willian will miss a chunk of the Blues’ preparations ahead of a daunting season, state[football.london](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/players/willian-latest-chelsea-neymar-brazil-16396981).

It’s not a major problem – he did the same last summer following the World Cup in which he sported the no. 19 shirt – as plenty of other Premier League representatives could be doing the same.

Despite the departure of Eden Hazard, Willian isn’t expected to have a starting role at Chelsea next season and the Copa America could realistically be his last major tournament with his nation.