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Neymar’s hopes of securing a place in the Brazilian squad for the next World Cup have hit another hurdle following his absence from Santos training on Sunday.
The striker was notably absent from CT Rei Pelé as the team prepares for continental action, after suffering a viral infection.
Viral infection leaves Brazilian star out
Santos have confirmed that Neymar was unable to participate in Sunday’s training at the CT Rei Pelé due to illness.
The 34-year-old was expected to join his teammates who did not travel for Saturday’s league match against Bahia, but remained out as the team prepares for the Copa Sudamericana.
Santos issued an official statement to clarify the situation following concerns about his whereabouts on Sunday morning.
“The athlete Neymar Jr. presented a viral illness on Saturday night, he was medicated, he reacted well and continues to be monitored by the Santos medical department,” the club reported.
Crucial week for Peixe and Neymar
The timing of the illness is far from ideal for both the player and the club. Santos are currently preparing for a crucial Copa Sudamericana clash against San Lorenzo in Argentina, scheduled for Tuesday.
Neymar’s participation remains a doubt as he battles to recover from the infection in time for the trip to Buenos Aires. Neymar was supposed to work alongside other high-profile teammates like Gabigol, Willian Arao and Igor Vinicius.
These players were also absent in the match against Bahia, but are expected to be available for the selection under Cuca’s command for the trip to Argentina.
World Cup ambitions in the spotlight
Every little setback for Neymar is now seen through the lens of his international future. With the World Cup approaching, the striker is under intense pressure to prove his physical reliability and match acumen.
The lack of training, even due to illness, alters the rhythm he needs to convince the national team’s coaching staff.
While the club suggests he has reacted well to medication, the optics of another absence add to the narrative of a stop-start season for the legendary number 10.
Neymar’s plan remains to meet with the rest of the Santos squad in Buenos Aires on Monday, provided his health improves sufficiently in the next 24 hours.
Next schedule and recovery
The Santos team that faced Bahía has been training at the Vitoria facilities, with those who played on Saturday carrying out recovery work at their hotel.
The integration of Neymar and the rest of the returning stars is considered vital to the club’s chances in the Sudamericana, where they face a daunting environment in San Lorenzo.
After the continental match, Santos faces a grueling schedule that includes a massive Serie A clash against Palmeiras on May 2 and another trip to face Paraguay’s Recoleta on May 5.
