Neymar didn’t function for Santos in Sunday’s 2-1 semifinal defeat at Corinthians due to ongoing “discomfort” in his left thigh.
The Brazilian ahead picked up a muscular drawback in final week’s 2-0 win in opposition to Bragantino and needed to watch from the bench as his group was eradicated from the Campeonato Paulista.
“All I needed was to be on the sphere as we speak and assist my teammates indirectly,” a disenchanted Neymar wrote on Instagram. “However final week, I felt discomfort and that prevented me from being on the sphere as we speak. We did a take a look at this morning and I ended up feeling it once more!
“Sadly, it is a part of soccer … It did not work out as we speak, however we’ll come again even stronger to struggle for our objectives!”
Neymar, 33, was just lately named in Brazil‘s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in opposition to Colombia and at Argentina.
He has not featured for Brazil since October 2023, when he tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee whereas on worldwide responsibility.
Santos coach Pedro Caixinha denied reviews that Neymar rested on Sunday in view of Brazil’s upcoming video games.
He stated: “The one factor that we thought-about was that the participant has discomfort, if he has discomfort, I am not going to danger the participant at Santos’. I am not desirous about the Brazilian nationwide group. When a participant has discomfort and it could possibly be related to some danger of harm, I am not going to take a danger.
“One of many issues we’ve got promised is we are going to do every thing we will to make sure that Neymar doesn’t get injured. Discomfort isn’t an harm. We’re not going to make a case the place it doesn’t exist, simply because he felt discomfort and was not able to present his greatest.
“It was my request, and he agreed to be with the group despite the fact that he knew he would not be capable to play, as a result of he is a special, enlightened participant, who has improbable power, and he suffered lots for not with the ability to take part within the sport.”
Neymar is Brazil’s all-time main scorer with 79 objectives.
Brazil host Colombia in Brasilia on March 20 earlier than going through world champions Argentina in Buenos Aires 5 days later.
