Brasilia (Kashmir English): Neymar has been ruled out of Brazil’s upcoming friendlies and is set to miss their World Cup opener against Morocco on June 13 after scans revealed a grade-two calf injury, according to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
CBF doctor Rodrigo Lasmar revealed this on Thursday ahead of a players’ press conference, saying Neymar faces two to three more weeks on the sidelines.
“Neymar reported for duty yesterday here at Granja Comary, underwent all the medical tests, which concluded with an MRI scan revealing a grade-two calf injury, not just swelling. He is expected to be cleared in two to three weeks,” Lasmar said.
He, however, stopped short of saying whether Neymar could be dropped from the squad.
The 34-year-old forward had joined the team on Tuesday but missed the first training session very next day and was sent to a private clinic in Teresopolis for imaging tests after complaints of swelling in his right calf.
The MRI showed no swelling, as previously reported, but a Grade 2 calf strain — a moderate injury involving a partial tear of the muscle fibres that requires rest and rehabilitation, according to Lasmar.
The fresh diagnosis differs from that presented by Santos prior to the World Cup squad announcement.
Earlier, the club’s doctor Rodrigo Zogaib had stated the problem was merely swelling and that the Brazil’s all-time leading scorer would arrive fit to begin training on Tuesday.
Instead, Neymar will miss Sunday’s friendly against Panama at the Maracana and the subsequent match against Egypt in Cleveland.
He will also miss Brazil’s World Cup opener against African champions Morocco on June 13 in New Jersey.
Brazil are in Group C also alongside Haiti and Scotland.
Brazil World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio).
Defenders: Marquinhos (PSG), Gabriel (Arsenal), Bremer (Juventus), Ibanez (Al Ahli), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Wesley (Roma), Danilo (Flamengo), Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit).
Midfielders: Casemiro (Manchester United), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Fabinho (Al Ittihad), Danilo (Botafogo), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo).
Forwards: Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Raphinha (Barcelona), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Luiz Henrique (Zenit), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Endrick (Lyon/Real Madrid), Martinelli (Arsenal), Rayan (Bournemouth), Neymar (Santos).
