After being sidelined for more than a year due to surgery on his left knee, Neymar was diagnosed with a new injury that could keep him out of action for up to six weeks. The problem this time is less serious and in the right leg.
According to a statement published this Wednesday (6) by the Saudi club Al Hilal on social media, the striker suffered a muscle injury to his right thigh, the treatment period for which was estimated to be between four and six weeks.
The 32-year-old Brazilian played just under half an hour in his team’s 3-0 victory over Esteghlal, from Iran, on Monday (4), in the Asian Champions League.
The striker entered the field in the 13th minute of the second half and left it in the 41st minute. The nature of the injury was initially unclear, but he demonstrated difficulty with his right leg, which is not the problem that kept him away from football for 369 days: a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in the left knee.
Neymar published a message on social media after the match in which he spoke about the moment of the injury. “I felt like it was a very strong cramp. It’s normal, after a year, for this to happen. The doctors had already warned me,” he wrote.
Depending on the progress of the recovery, a return to the pitch for Al Hilal could take place on December 18, in a match for the Asian Champions League against Saudi Al-Wasl, at the Zabeel Stadium, in Dubai. The Brazilian is not registered in the Saudi Championship.
“He came back from an injury that is not easy and plays in a position that makes him very vulnerable to contact,” said coach Jorge Jesus, recalling a hard foul suffered in the game.
The return had taken place on the 21st. On that occasion, the São Paulo native was called on by the coach in the 32nd minute of the final stage in Al Hilal’s 5-4 victory over Al Ain, away from home, in the United Arab Emirates.
For the few minutes on the field since returning to the pitch, he was left out of the list released by coach Dorival Júnior last Friday (1st), with the athletes who will play against Venezuela and Uruguay, in the World Cup qualifiers.
The entire player return process has been monitored by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation). Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar traveled to Riyadh last month to carry out an assessment of the 2023 injured knee and prepare a report. It was decided that the return would not take place now, but, as Dorival Júnior already stated, Neymar’s place “is saved”.
TV says Al Hilal is willing to terminate contract
Amid Neymar’s difficulties in entering the field, broadcaster MBC Shahid, holder of the Saudi Championship broadcasting rights, published that Al Hilal is willing to terminate his contract. According to information published on the program “Action Ma’ Waleed”, the player could be released in January.
Also according to the broadcaster, the club has already informed the Saudi league, the Saudi Pro League, that it will not register the Brazilian for the remainder of the national championship. The player’s contract is scheduled to end in June next year.
