Pointer Douglas Souza, one of the athletes on the Brazilian men’s volleyball team, requested a period of two weeks away from team activities to resolve personal issues. The Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV) officially released the information on Thursday (2), however, the statement was taken down shortly afterwards.
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With this request, the player will be left out of the third week of the Nations League (VNL). Furthermore, the expectation is that Douglas will also not participate in the decisive phase of the competition, if the Brazilian team guarantees its classification for this important stage of the international tournament.
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Athlete requests removal after recent return to the national team
Douglas Souza’s decision to request leave comes shortly after his return to the Brazilian team this season, marking his return four years after announcing his retirement from the national team. In March, the press confirmed that the forward was committed to wearing the Brazil shirt again and had been working to regain his place under the leadership of coach Bernardinho. This new request for leave, which will last two weeks, interrupts this reintegration process and could raise questions about his stay in the squad, especially considering the proximity of the crucial phases of the League of Nations, which could directly impact his chance of consolidating a place for future Olympic commitments.
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What led Douglas Souza to leave the Brazilian team in the past
Winner of the Olympic gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016, Douglas had announced his first retirement from the national team in 2022, after the conclusion of the Tokyo Olympic Games. On that occasion, he justified the measure with the great strain caused by the exhausting training routine and the pressing need to take care of his mental health.
Even before the Paris 2024 Games, the player was invited by Bernardinho to rejoin the squad, but he preferred to maintain his decision to remain away, prioritizing his well-being at the time.
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In addition to the Olympic gold, Douglas Souza was one of the highlights of Brazil’s campaign at the 2018 World Championship, when the team won the silver medal. If Brazil had won the final, the winger was considered a strong candidate for the competition’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.