The Real Madrid defender says that he is upset to be left out of the squad for March's World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay, with Alex Sandro included instead

Real Madrid defender Marcelo has expressed his disappointment at being left out of Thursday's Brazil squad for March's World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay.

Marcelo had been out of action since February 21 but returned to training ahead of Saturday's Primera Division encounter with Celta Vigo and played the last 15 minutes as a substitute.

The 27-year-old was replaced in the party by Juventus star Alex Sandro, a decision which coach Dunga put down to the left-back's "series of injuries", but Marcelo admits that he was surprised to be left out.

"I talked to the Brazil team doctor on Wednesday and he asked me how I was," the Madrid star told Esporte Interativo.

"I explained that I was coming back from injury and that I was going to train with [Madrid] on Thursday, the day of the call-ups, to see how I was feeling.

"When I told them that I was fit, I had already been left out. I was upset to be left out because I want to be called every time."

Madrid coach Zidane confirmed on Monday morning that Marcelo is set to start his side's Champions League match against Roma on Tuesday, a game which Dunga and CBF technical coordinator Gilmar will attend after arriving in Spain this week ahead of discussions with Barcelona over Neymar's potential participation at this year's Copa America and Olympic Games.

"Marcelo was ready to play. He is ready," said Zidane. "He came on in the last game and is ready to play with us. That's all I can tell you.

"The coach of the national team is the only one who decides whether to call him up or not but what I can say is that Marcelo is ready to play."

Marcelo has appeared five times for Brazil since Dunga's July 2014 appointment.

He has twice dropped out of the squad through injury (in June and October 2015), the first ruling him out of Copa America 2015, while the second left him absent from Brazil's most recent qualifiers, against Argentina and Peru.