Neymar’s ankle ligament injury has kept him out since February. Post his $300 million deal, he is yet to make his debut. The 31-year-old has been called up for the Brazilian squad for World Cup 2026 qualifiers recently. His national teammate, who was also called up, recently wants Neymar to be back playing.
Having Neymar in your team can add a lot of strength and his presence is definitely being missed by his teammates. The anticipation of his return to the pitch is getting higher and higher. The wait can usually be frustrating, especially for the player. And it will certainly be a while before the Brazilian attacker can return to action. In the meantime, his teammates and fans have expressed their desire to see him return as soon as possible, as his importance to the team cannot be understated.
Neymar is crucial for Brazil
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Fellow Brazilian teammate Danilo recently said that Neymar is very important and would be eager to do his best for Brazil. He said “Everyone wants to see Neymar play. He likes to play ball, his home is the national team, it’s where he feels best. We hope he is happy because when he is like this it is difficult to hold him,” the Juventus player told a news conference. It’s been quite long since Brazil was what it used to be.
Brazil last won the world cup in 2002, taking their tally to five, but haven’t replicated that form since. Neymar has been the face of their team for the last 5 to 10 years but has been with constant injuries and on and off-field distractions. However, now the Brazilians are looking up to Neymar for a resurgence.
Danilo is positive about seeing Neymar back. Waiting for his recovery, their second-highest goalscorer(77) is a very crucial part of Brazil’s national setup. The trio of Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo, and Neymar can form a formidable attack. With Gabriel Jesus also called up, it would be interesting to see the team’s permutations.
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Adapting to the new tactics
With his arrival at the national camp, Neymar will work with the newly appointed interim coach, Fernando Diniz, and his tactics. The coach already revealed that he would always welcome Neymar in his camp. Diniz’s style of play differs from other coaches where it would take time, claims Danilo. The approach is quite innovative than other setups, which probably suits Neymar’s way of playing.
After the World Cup debacle, there was uncertainty around Neymar’s availability to the national team. But Diniz’s announcement of Neymar in the squad even took his Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus by surprise. The Al Hilal coach felt that Neymar still needed time, apparently until mid-September.
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Ney being off the game for long periods isn’t something new for the fans. It remains to be seen when the Brazilian maestro can return to action.