Bad news on Neymar front

– Paris Saint-Germain’s hopes of getting Neymar (above) back for their crunch Champions League clash against Real Madrid next week look to be over after the Brazilian’s father claimed the player would be out for “at least six weeks”.

Speaking to ESPN in Brazil on Tuesday, Neymar Senior said: “PSG know that they will not be able to count on Neymar for the upcoming matches: his treatment will last six to eight weeks, whether there is an operation or not.”

That was after PSG coach Unai Emery claimed earlier that “no decision” had been taken on whether Neymar would require surgery and that there remained a “small chance” of getting the world’s most expensive player back in time to face Real next Tuesday.

Tests confirmed that Neymar suffered a hairline fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot late in PSG’s 3-0 win over Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

He appeared to be in tears as he was stretchered off the field at the Parc des Princes, immediately raising fears that the 26-year-old could miss the Champions League last-16, second leg against Madrid.

PSG lost 3-1 in the first leg in Spain two weeks ago and are in danger of being knocked out of the competition in the last-16 for the second season running.

Brazilian newspaper Globo Esporte had claimed Neymar would undergo surgery, and would be sidelined until May.

If his father’s estimate is correct, Neymar would not return before the semifinal stage of the Champions League in late April.

On the possibility of rushing him back, experts say that PSG would be taking a huge risk, jeopardising Neymar’s participation at the World Cup in Russia. – AFP

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