Valencia named in Ecuador Copa America squad

Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-21 08:31:24|Editor: mingmei
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QUITO, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Manchester United's outgoing right-back Antonio Valencia was among 14 foreign-based players named in Ecuador's Copa America squad on Monday.

Others include Sao Paulo defender Robert Arboleda, Minnesota United winger Romario Ibarra and Tigres UANL forward Enner Valencia.

Valencia, 33, was included despite being restricted to nine matches in his final season with Manchester United because of injuries and poor form.

"There are players who haven't played much but they are players that you know will be important when they're in the national team," Ecuador head coach Hernan Dario Gomez told reporters. "I'm not going to exclude Valencia until he tells me he's quitting."

Capped 94 times for his country, Valencia played his last match for Manchester United in the side's 2-0 defeat to Cardiff City on May 12.

Ecuador have been drawn in the same group as Uruguay, Chile and Japan for the Copa America, to be played in Brazil from June 14 to July 7.

The team will warm up for the tournament with friendlies against Venezuela on June 1 and Mexico eight days later.

"We are just setting up the side. We respect all the rivals but nobody will have an easy time with Ecuador, we will be a difficult team," Gomez added.

Following is the Ecuador squad:

Goalkeepers: Alexander Dominguez, Maximo Banguera, Pedro Ortiz.

Defenders: Pedro Pablo Velasco, Beder Caicedo, Gabriel Achilier, Xavier Arreaga, Cristian Ramirez, Jose Quintero, Robert Arboleda, Arturo Mina.

Midfielders: Jhegson Mendez, Jefferson Orejuela, Jefferson Intriago, Luis Chicaiza, Carlos Gruezo, Renato Ibarra, Antonio Valencia.

Forwards: Romario Ibarra, Ayrton Preciado, Angel Mena, Enner Valencia, Carlos Garces.

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