Remember corona? Neymar has it

When Neymar returned to his boyhood club Santos this past January, it was expected to be a win-win situation. The famous Brazilian footballer would get playing time at a gentler pace—much needed after a long absence due to a torn ACL—while Santos would gain a major reinforcement following their return from the second division. However, over the past five and a half months, we’ve seen Neymar more in the stands than on the pitch. He’s been hit with setback after setback.

He’s already been sidelined twice due to thigh injuries, and now, just as he finally returned to training—he’s once again out of contention. According to Brazilian media, Neymar didn’t train on Saturday because he fell ill, and testing revealed he has contracted COVID-19. The 33-year-old had been complaining of health issues since Thursday, and when his condition didn’t improve, he went for lab testing. Results confirmed that the infection was caused by the COVID-19 virus, so he has been placed in isolation.

Carletto's era with Brazil begins without Neymar

The good news for Santos is that their next league match isn’t until June 13, against Fortaleza. That gives Neymar time to recover and possibly help his teammates—even if just from the bench. It would be about time, as the Santos captain has appeared in only four Serie A matches since his return, logging a total of just 181 minutes. He has yet to score a goal or register an assist. Santos is currently in the relegation zone, with only 8 points after 11 rounds. Vitoria and Vasco da Gama, the two teams just above the drop line, each have 10 points. Neymar’s contract with Santos is also set to expire soon, as he only signed a six-month deal when he joined. It runs until June 30.