Santos’ Brazilian coach, Alexei Stival “Kuka”, reported that his player Neymar underwent knee surgery during the recent international break. This step comes within the framework of his tireless efforts to regain full physical fitness and convince Carlo Ancelotti to include him in the squad participating in the World Cup.
Despite his exclusion from the final list, in addition to the Italian coach’s statements, Neymar still believes in his chances of participating, striving with all his might to return to full health, to become one of the main elements in the Brazilian national team, which is currently working on putting the final touches to its squad.
In the details of the operation, Coca explained that Neymar had used the downtime to perform this surgical intervention, as part of a plan aimed at improving his movement without the ball, in compliance with Ancelotti’s request. He added that the player will miss the upcoming matches, and will focus during the recovery period on regaining full physical fitness.
The Santos coach also pointed out that Neymar’s training program will focus in the next stage on developing his speed, strength and endurance, stressing: “This is a period of intense physical preparation for a talented player who does not want to miss the World Cup in any way.”
Just two months before the final list was announced, Neymar was unable to convince the coaching staff during the last international break, even though Rodrigo’s absence opened up an opportunity for him to return to the squad.
Neymar remains a great technical asset when he is fully fit, but recurring injuries have forced him to work hard to significantly raise his physical level. In light of these data, the surgery may mark a turning point in his career, paving the way for his return according to the conditions set by Ancelotti.
