NEYMAR has been sent home from the Brazilian squad due to injury and will miss both World Cup 2022 qualifiers.
The ace will be forced to sit out encounters against Venezuela and Uruguay due to a leg strain.
Neymar will be a big miss in the clash against Uruguay Credit: Alamy Live News
While the management knew he would be absent for the first game, it was hoped he would recover in time to face Uruguay.
Brazil’s national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said: “We were hopeful that he could play, that’s why we brought him to Brazil.
“He improved but not enough so that he’ll be ready for the game on Tuesday against Uruguay. The backroom staff decided to release Neymar.”
PSG manager Thomas Tuchel was critical of all the games players are involved in for both club and country following football’s suspension after the outbreak of Covid-19.
He said last month: “We’re going to kill the players. That’s what I’ve always said.
“We are going to kill them because there is an important link between preparation, performance and rest.
“In football it always falls on the greatest players because they will always play for their country.
“They play during the break, they travel and that’s too much in my opinion. They don’t have a recovery phase to allow them to come back and a preparation phase.
Brazil will be short on Neymar’s goal threat after the PSG star was ruled out with injury Credit: AFP or licensors
“That is not a secret, it happens in sport. Preparation influences injuries and performance.
“Without preparation, players are more fragile and difficult to manage. This is not an excuse, this is the truth. We are going to look for solutions and I hope we will find some.”
Neymar returns to France amid rumours he is ready to quit PSG in the summer.
Reports today suggest some of Barcelona’s presidential candidates want him to return and he is open to offers.
Neymar asks to be subbed after just 25 minutes of PSG’s clash with Basaksehir after apparent groin injury
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
