Neymar, a striker for Brazil, said his right ankle ailment, which has kept him out since February, prevents him from being totally ready to participate in either of the first two World Cup qualifying matches.
Neymar moved from Paris Saint-Germain to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, but has yet to play for his new team. In a news conference on Thursday, he said that the Saudi Pro League would even be superior than France’s Ligue 1.
Brazil will face Bolivia in its first World Cup qualifying match on Friday at Belem, an Amazonian city. The Selecao will next fly to Peru on Tuesday to play Peru. Neymar said that he had previously reported for international duty in a similar state and continued to play.
“I feel well and joyful, although clearly I’m not in perfect shape. However, the 31-year-old Neymar stated, “My body and head are both in good shape. I was scheduled to participate in the most recent Al Hilal game, but the coach decided to sit me out so I could go to Brazil after I was injured during practice.
The World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Croatia was Neymar’s most recent game for Brazil. He departed Qatar with uncertainty surrounding his future with the national team and missed the first three games of this season for the Selecao.
Neymar’s skepticism now seems to be dispelled.
“You start giving value to everything you did,” Neymar remarked, “after a lot of pressure from family and friends (to return to the national team).” “They put you in your place and make you realize it is worthwhile to continue being happy by wearing Brazil’s shirt when you are with your people, your family.”
Neymar needs one goal to surpass Pelé’s 77 goals to become the best scorer for the national team in official matches, an accomplishment that the Brazilian soccer confederation is reluctant to acknowledge since it counts the three-time World Cup winner’s goals differently and thinks he has 95.
However, Neymar acknowledged that the award is just another reason for him to represent Brazil.
The striker remarked, “It is hard to tell what that record signifies, but it does signify a lot. “Nobody ever considered getting over it. After it is finished, I will react to it.
During the press conference, Neymar, who in recent years has come under fire from French fans and left PSG amid rumors that the club did not want him, took a dig at his former league.
Neymar said, “I guarantee you that soccer there (in Saudi Arabia) is the same, so I don’t know how I would stay competitive in a league outside of Europe. There is a goal and a spherical ball, and if you look at the players that have joined the Saudi league… Whether it is superior than the French league or not is unknown to me.
“I won’t alter much in my thinking; I want to win trophies for Al Hilal. Everyone criticized me for being too competitive when I went to France, and it was there that I experienced the worst pain in my life, stated Neymar. “I am certain that winning the Saudi title won’t be simple; other clubs have become stronger and include well-known players. You will definitely be watching since it will be highly intriguing.
