Called up for the World Cup, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti, because of the physical evolution he demonstrated at Santos, Neymar has a new problem. It is not a serious injury, but edema detected in the 34-year-old player’s calf will make his preparation for the World Cup more complicated.
The club, the athlete and the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) have adopted silence on the issue. There was no medical report released, although no one disputes the information that there is edema. In any case, he is out of his team’s match against San Lorenzo, on Wednesday night (20), for the Copa Sudamericana.
It is almost certain that the striker will also not take the field in the duels with Grêmio and Deportivo Cuenca before his presentation to the national team next Wednesday (27), at Granja Comary, in Teresópolis. In the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, the veteran will try to show that he is capable of playing with the national team’s shirt, after the entire campaign for his presence.
The CBF limits itself to saying that it receives reports on the players called up, who are still under the responsibility of their respective teams. Santos does not comment on the topic. The issue is the extent of the edema, a medical term for the accumulation of fluid between muscle fibers, resulting in swelling.
In the case of Neymar, this swelling is the result of wear and tear due to the recent sequence of games or a blow suffered in the match against Coritiba, last Sunday (17). After being substituted – pointing to a refereeing error in the exchange, something that made Santos ask for the 3-0 defeat to be annulled –, he received treatment in the region.
It may be a matter of a few days of rest, but star Neymar’s extensive injury history is causing concern. It is very likely that the team’s medical department and the coach will exercise caution at the beginning of the preparation. In this way, the athlete’s participation in the friendly with Panama, on May 31, at Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro, is also at risk.
The game against the Central American team will be festive. Ancelotti made it clear that he intends to use a large part of the group, if not the entire group, in a farewell to the Brazilian fans. The following day, the delegation will embark for the United States, where they will play their three matches in Group C of the World Cup.
Before the debut, there will be another friendly match, as a final test and against a stronger opponent. On June 6, the team will face Egypt, at Huntington Bank Field, in Cleveland. In its World Cup bracket, the team will face Morocco (June 13, in East Rutherford), Haiti (June 19, in Philadelphia) and Scotland (June 24, in Miami Gardens).
At the lavish call-up event in Rio, the coach said that training would define the lineup. Asked specifically about Neymar, he pointed out that “he has the possibility of improving his condition until the first game of the World Cup”. The beginning, with edema in the right calf and a delay in starting the preparation, was not good.
