Neymar receives heartbreaking news

Robin Bairner

• 20 Dec 2023 09:38 GMT
• 5 min read

Neymar has received a distressing update on his injury as the Al-Hilal striker battles his way back to full fitness after suffering an ACL injury.

Sold by PSG to the Saudi Pro League side in the summer for €90 million, Neymar has been unable to make the impression he would like at his new club after suffering the serious injury while on international duty with Brazil.

Chased out of Paris by Kylian Mbappe, Neymar has featured on only five occasions for Al-Hilal but he had hoped to be back in action for the Copa America next summer, particularly after it was revealed in October that his recover was going positively.

However, Neymar’s doctor has confirmed that the player will be unable to feature in next summer’s major international competition.

Speaking to Radio98FM in quotes relayed by AS, he said: “Six weeks after the operation, we don’t have a timescale. It’s too early and there’s no point in rushing him back early and taking unnecessary risks.

“We hope that he will be ready to play against at the start of the 2024 season in Europe, that is to say in August.

“We expect him to play again, we have to be patient. Talking about a return before nine months is premature. It is very important to respect biological time, the time it takes for the body to integrate this ligament. We expect that after this period, he will be completely restored to a high level.”

Neymar ruled out of the Copa America

While the news that Neymar, still the most expensive player ever thanks to his €222 million transfer from Barcelona to PSG, is expected to get back to his thrilling best is clearly welcome, his absence from the Copa America will be a heavy burden for him to bear.

It is a competition that he has never won, with the closest he has come a runner-up spot in 2021, when Lionel Messi’s Argentina claimed a 1-0 victory in the final, which took place at the Maracana in Rio.