Neymar is doing everything in his power to try and gain the favour of Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti
Santos head coach Cuca has confirmed that Neymar underwent a knee procedure during the recent international break as part of efforts to get him fully prepared for the upcoming World Cup period.
The Brazil forward, who was not included in the national squad for recent friendlies, also missed Santos’ defeat to Flamengo after previously featuring in a win over Remo.
Explaining the situation, Cuca said: “During the break we had, he underwent a procedure on his knee, so he didn’t train.
“He spent four or five days recovering from that. He worked on some of the fitness targets he needed to meet.
“This week he’s been working on strength, speed and endurance. He’ll be raring to go for the 13 consecutive matches remaining until the [next international] break.
“So we’ve used this time, working with the coaching staff and the medical team, to top up his energy levels and keep going until the middle of the year.”
Although the exact nature of the treatment was not disclosed, it is understood to have been a minor intervention aimed at aiding recovery and managing ongoing physical issues.
Neymar has faced a prolonged battle with fitness since suffering a serious knee injury in late 2023, and while he has returned to action in recent months, his form has yet to fully convince Carlo Ancelotti to reintegrate him into the national setup.
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer is still targeting a return to the international stage, with the focus now on maintaining fitness and consistency across a demanding run of fixtures in the coming weeks.
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