After leaving out star footballer Neymar from the 23-player squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said the door for a national team comeback is still ajar for Neymar, given the 33-year-old keeps himself fit.
“We are not going to observe how Neymar plays, obviously. Everyone knows his talent,” Ancelotti told ESPN Brasil on Friday. “In modern football, to take advantage of his talent, the player has to be in good physical condition. If he is in his best physical condition, he will have no problems being in the national team,” said Ancelotti.
The Brazil coach believes Neymar’s physical condition will be crucial for his inclusion in the national team for next year’s World Cup. “Everyone wants Neymar in the national team in good physical condition. I spoke with him and I said, ‘You have time to prepare in the best way to be there and help the team try to do their best in the World Cup’,” he added.
Neymar missed out on the World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia with a minor leg muscle injury. However, he later said his exclusion was for technical reasons. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player has not donned the famous yellow jersey since October 2023, when he suffered serious knee ligament injuries that have plagued his comeback attempts.
Flashes of brilliance
Neymar has shown flashes of brilliance since returning to his boyhood club, Santos, from Saudi side Al-Hilal. However, his struggles were laid bare last month when he left the pitch in tears following Santos’ crushing 6-0 defeat by Vasco da Gama.
Ancelotti said he sees Neymar playing centrally, either as an attacking midfielder or striker.
“I spoke with him … Everything is clear, the idea remains the same. He can’t play on the outside because modern football needs forwards who have physical quality; it’s very important. He can play as an attacking midfielder without problems,” said Ancelotti.
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Brazil, who have already qualified for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will next be in action when it faces South Korea in a friendly match in Seoul on October 10.
(With Reuters inputs)
