Brazil manager Dunga has tried to quell speculation that former captain Thiago Silva is unhappy within the national team ranks after losing his captaincy, without reportedly being told, to Neymar in the last few days.

The Brazilian national team has undergone several changes since the catastrophic World Cup 2014 exit. Several new players have been brought in to the national team fold by new manager Dunga, but Silva was expected to retain his captaincy. Regarded as one of the best centre backs in the world, the former AC Milan defender said a few days ago that he was shocked to see the captaincy stripped from him without being told.

Dunga has tried to pacify the situation by claiming that the Brazilian national team has a number of leaders, who necessarily do not look for the armband. Instead, he has urged the players to show their leadership skills on the pitch. Neymar is regarded as a prodigious talent who has already featured in more than 50 international appearances. He has an impressive goal record with 42, while they could have also finished as the top scorer in the World Cup had it not been for the injury suffered in the last few weeks of the tournament. Brazil are right now involved in a number of international friendlies, which Dunga has utilised to introduce a number of new players.

“Everything here is being done in an organised fashion, and planned in advanced.To the media, it might seem like controversy, but the truth is things are cool for us.In the Selecao it doesn’t matter who wears the armband, but rather who provides this leadership on the pitch.I think [what makes a difference] is the work we’re doing, trying to give confidence to who played the World Cup and bringing in others that weren’t there. We have brought in new blood, there’s motivation, everyone is trying to find their space in the squad while at the same time respecting the others,” said Dunga.