Neymar is still racing against time to convince the technical committee before the final call-up, scheduled for May 18th
Carlo Ancelotti has not yet included Neymar on the Brazilian team’s most recent list, but made it clear that the striker remains on the radar for the World Cup. In an interview with the French newspaper L’Équipe, the coach stated that the Santos player is being monitored closely.
Outside of the friendlies against France and Croatia, Neymar is still racing against time to convince the technical committee before the final call-up, scheduled for May 18th. The criteria, according to Ancelotti himself, is straightforward: only those who are in full physical condition will be in the group. Internally, however, the reading is that the number 10 still has room to reach this level in the coming weeks.
“He is capable of returning to 100%. I have said this repeatedly, and it is very clear: I will call up the players who are physically fit. After his knee injury, Neymar had a great recovery, he is scoring goals. He needs to continue in this direction and improve his physical conditioning. He is on the right path”, said the coach.
Neymar’s constant presence in questions also doesn’t bother the coach. For him, the attacker’s history justifies the expectations surrounding a possible return at a decisive moment in the cycle.
“It doesn’t bother me. Neymar has made and continues to make history in Brazilian football. He is a great talent and it is normal for people to think that he can help us win the next World Cup. He is being evaluated by the CBF, by me, and he still has two months to show that he has the quality to play in the next World Cup”, he said.
Ancelotti also indicated where he sees Neymar performing the mostif you are called up again: in a more central role, close to the area, exactly as it has been used in Santos.
*Estadão Content
