Neymar says he is physically well and sees Diniz reinventing football

After more than 270 days away from the Brazilian team, Neymar he spoke. In a press conference this Thursday (7), the star was direct when talking about his physical condition after a long period away due to injury, admitted that he missed being in the national team and explained how he sees the work of Fernando Diniz reinventing football.

The physical problems of 2023 began in February. Still at PSG, the striker suffered a tackle in a game and ended up having a problem with his right ankle. After tests and an attempt at conventional treatment, the player had to undergo surgery and was out of action for more than five months.

Already at his new club, Al-Hilal, the Brazilian had problems with the femoral muscle in his right leg and Jorge Jesus, coach of the Saudi club, commented in a press conference that he did not understand how an injured athlete was called up for his team. This Thursday, Neymar made a point of explaining that he is ready for the game.

“I don’t remember (Jorge) Jesus’ words. But I think he said it with the intention of preserving the player. I’m in good shape physically and it’s not the first time I’ve been called up like this (coming from injury). I was ready to play the last match for Al-Hilal, but I ended up suffering a blow in the last training session before the game and I was preserved by Jesus so I could play for the national team”, explained Neymar when talking about his physical issue.

The last time Neymar was with the Brazilian team was in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, against Croatia. After the defeat on penalties, more than 270 days passed and Neymar experienced different moments. After failing to win the world title for the third time in his career, the Brazilian star admitted that he considered not playing for the team anymore. However, the attacker explained that the longing hit him very hard and returning was the only option.

“Have you already left home? Did you miss it? Me too. It’s been 13 years with the national team and I know it will end at some point. At that moment (when I said I wasn’t coming back) that’s what I thought. I don’t play games. I felt I missed it and made myself available. After a lot of pressure from family and friends, I wanted to come back and I’m here because I want to be here and play in another World Cup. I saw with them (family and friends) that it’s worth being here with the selection”, the player explained directly.

Neymar’s return takes place in a different scenario. After the elimination to Croatia, Tite left command of the team. In 2023, the player suffered an ankle injury playing for PSG and had to undergo surgery that left him out of action for more than five months. In the meantime, the Brazilian team had Ramon Menezes as interim coach in friendlies and Fernando Diniz took charge of the national team for the next year. Regarding working with Brazil’s new coach, the player was direct and highlighted what stands out to him.

“I think Diniz’s work is completely different from what I’ve seen. Most of the coaches I’ve ever had were similar, they did basically the same thing, and he wants to reinvent football. I talk to Marquinhos, Casemiro and he asked what We liked the training and I said it was very different”, explained Neymar after two training sessions with the new coach.

“I met him a short time ago. I had two or three contacts with him. But he is a very different guy because he cares about the athlete off the field. He has said several times that he cares if we are happy, because happy We’re going to perform on the field. He cares about details that don’t seem to make a difference on the field but they do”, added Neymar.

Fernando Diniz’s debut and the striker’s probable return with the Brazilian team takes place this Friday, 8th, at the Mangueirão stadium. The Brazilian team opens its participation in the South American Qualifiers against Bolivia, at 9:45 pm.

SAUDI CHAMPIONSHIP BETTER THAN THE FRENCH?

For the first time, in a public way, Neymar commented on his move to Al-Hilal. After six years at PSG, the striker accepted a million-dollar offer from the Saudi club and signed a two-year contract. When asked about changing clubs, the player valued the national championship, casting doubt on the quality of the French national tournament.

“I assure you that football there is the same. The ball is round, it has a goal and based on the names that went there, I don’t know if it’s better than the French Championship. But the main thing is that the mind is good, I’m happy. The training there is intense, my and my teammates’ thirst for winning is immense. Everyone said the same thing, that it’s a much weaker championship, when I went to the French championship and it was the place where I got hit the most in my life. I really want to win titles with Al-Hilal”, concluded the athlete.