Neymar injured, questioned for Morocco game

Problems continue for Brazil and Neymar (34). The Selecao’s biggest star had barely arrived at the national team camp for the start of preparations for the upcoming World Cup before ending up in a medical clinic. Due to a calf issue, the Santos forward was taken late last night to a private local clinic, where detailed examinations revealed that the captain will need to rest for two to three weeks. In practical terms, this means Neymar will miss both warm-up matches against Egypt and Panama, while his availability for Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco is now in serious doubt.

“Neymar arrived yesterday here at Granja Comary and underwent all medical tests, which concluded with an MRI scan. The scan revealed a grade-two calf injury, not just edema. We expect him to be ready in around twenty days at most” said Brazil national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar in a brief statement.

Show has already begun — Neymar arrived at national team camp by helicopter!?

Some Brazilian media outlets suspect that Santos hid Neymar’s injury so that Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup call-up would not be jeopardized. According to reports, on May 18 the Brazilian Football Confederation received a document signed by club doctors claiming that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player was in perfect condition. Even club president Marcelo Teixeira publicly stated there was no reason for concern. Ancelotti, under heavy public pressure, ultimately included Neymar in the squad, although he immediately made it clear that the veteran forward would not be guaranteed a place in the starting lineup.