Currently out injured and away from resuming competition, Neymar has just returned to the training ground. Enough to reach Brazil in September with the Seleção? The scenario Al-Hilal did not want to see is taking shape. This will bring back memories of PSG.
The injured Neymar has not been given a date for his debut with the Saudi club since signing for Al-Hilal from PSG in mid-August. A muscle problem, which would be linked more to his thigh than not his ankle, ruled him out of his new championship debut. This weekend, he has resumed training, and he was serenaded by his new teammates with a short impromptu shower on the ground. However, should their return to the competition not take place in the coming days, Al-Hilal do not want to risk showing their star without being 100%. When he signed, his coach Jorge Jesus mentioned a problem that would be resolved in a few weeks, not understanding if we could talk about his return to the Seleção, where he played during the World Cup. Haven’t played since. and yet…
Al-Hilal will not be able to do anything if Brazil calls Neymar
However, that is not the opinion of Neymar, nor of the Brazilian federation, for whom resuming work in the gym last week, then training again this weekend, suggests the former PSG player is not far away from a return. ESPN Brazil claim Vinicius Junior is likely to be ruled out following a groin injury with Real Madrid last weekend, but the CBF expect Neymar to at least feature in the squad. There will be optimism after a discussion with the player, who is pushing to find selection. Players will be called from Sunday 3 September after the last weekend of the national championships. Al-Hilal has already stated that, for them, Neymar is not in a position to feature in their selection. But PSG has experienced this in the past, the playmaker has every right to answer the summons even if his chances of playing are slim. There is no doubt that Neymar’s special status in Brazil will lead him to be called up if the former Barcelona player so desires.
The simple fact of finding his compatriots for 10 days is in any case very attractive to Neymar, who has essentially now spent a long two weeks in Saudi Arabia without a match. Al-Hilal, who pay him one of the biggest salaries in the history of the sport, must still hope that his physical condition will not worsen if “Ne” is ever called up for matches by the Selecao. The 2026 World Cup qualifiers will not be easy, facing rather tough opponents, Bolivia and Peru, in fact. That too, as PSG already knew, the relationship between the Parisian club and the doctors of the Brazilian selection has long remained very tense.