Chelsea's Alex drops out of Brazil squad

Chelsea defender Alex has been withdrawn from the Brazil squad for the next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Argentina with an undisclosed injury.

The Brazilian Football Confederation announced on their official website that the 25-year-old will not be fit to play in either of Brazil’s warm-up friendlies, against Canada in Seattle on May 31 and Venezuela on June 6 in Boston.

“Chelsea defender Alex has been withdrawn because of injury from the friendlies against Canada and Venezuela, and also the World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Argentina,” a statement said on the CBF website.

The CBF did not specify the nature of Alex’s injury.

The defender is currently in Moscow with Chelsea ahead of the Champions League, but no information about an injury has been disclosed.

Brazil, currently third in the South American qualifying zone, host leaders Paraguay on June 15 in Asuncion and second-placed Argentina on June 18 in Belo Horizonte.

No replacement for Alex has yet been named.