Neymar in doubt for crucial Santos matches due to knee injury

Neymar at Risk of Missing Final Matches with Santos Due to Injury

Brazilian star Neymar could miss the last three league matches with Santos due to a knee injury, according to sources close to the team. The forward was absent from the 1-1 draw against Internacional as a precautionary measure after feeling pain in his left knee during the match with Mirassol on November 19th. The tests carried out revealed an injury to Neymar’s left knee meniscus.

Neymar underwent surgery on his left knee two years ago to reconstruct a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a meniscus tear. Santos, which is fighting to avoid relegation, has not yet confirmed Neymar’s most recent injury, which would be his fourth physical setback since he returned to the club in January. However, the club president, Marcelo Teixeira, revealed that the player underwent tests on Tuesday and that Santos’ medical team is working against the clock to determine if he will be able to play on Friday against Sport.

“An exam was done today in São Paulo”, said Teixeira. “I spoke with the medical department and they are studying how he can be in this match [Sport]. The doctor himself has not yet spoken with Neymar, he will do so tomorrow.”

Marcelo Teixeira, president of Santos

“Tomorrow morning there will be a meeting to assess the situation. We will investigate how we can delay what needs to be done, if anything, so that we can still use Neymar in the Brazilian Championship.” Santos is in the relegation zone, one point away from safety, with three games remaining.

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Physical problems have prevented Neymar from playing regularly at Santos. For Brazil, he has not played since October 2023, when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top scorer, hopes to play his fourth World Cup in 2026. The Brazilian coach, Carlo Ancelotti, recently said that Neymar needs to be in good physical shape to be considered for the national team.