Brazilian forward Neymar Jr has spoken out after being forced to miss Brazil’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers due to injury.
The 32-year-old, who has been sidelined du to injury, was eager to return but ultimately decided against risking an early comeback.
Although many fans looked forward to seeing Neymar feature in a Brazil shirt for the first time in close to two years, the Santos skipper says he’s going to be sidelined for a while, but will be back stronger than ever.
“The return seemed so close, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to return to wearing the heaviest shirt in the world at this moment,” Neymar said in a statement.
“We had long conversations, and everyone knows how much I want to be back, but we agreed not to risk it so I can fully recover and be injury-free.”
The Santos man’s absence means Brazil will have to face tough opponents, Colombia and Argentina, without one of their most experienced players.
18-year-old Real Madrid forward Endrick has been called up to strengthen the squad in Neymar’s place as the youngster is regarded as one of Brazil’s most promising talents.
Despite his disappointment, Neymar expressed gratitude for the messages of support he’s received, deeming them a source of optimism for his comeback.
“Thank you to those who sent me messages. It’s part of the process,” he added, remaining optimistic about his recovery.
Brazil is currently in a competitive race for World Cup qualification, as they sit in fifth place on the CONMEBOL standings. They will need the likes of Raphinha and Rodrigo to be at their best level in the absence of Neymar to make a strong case for themselves in their upcoming crucial World Cup qualifiers.
