Brazil manager Dorival Junior provides insight into Neymar's future with national team

The Brazilian last played for the national team a year ago.

Dorival Junior, the coach of Brazil, is anxious for Neymar to rejoin the squad following their 1-1 World Cup qualifying game result with Uruguay.

Since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in October 2023 that put him out of action for a year, Neymar has not played for Brazil.

The forward made a comeback with Al-Hilal in the AFC Champions League, but two weeks ago he suffered another injury. It was the reason why Dorival decided not to include him in the Brazil team for the November international break games against Uruguay and Venezuela.

As they lie sixth in the CONMEBOL table and seven points below toppers Argentina, Brazil’s World Cup qualification campaign has been a complete disappointment mainly due to Neymar’s absence.

The coach believes that having a completely healthy Neymar at his disposal would have improved the team’s performance. Meanwhile, Dorival is under increasing pressure.

“I have never hidden my admiration for him. We all know how capable he is,” the coach said for the 32-year-old forward. “I would like him to return to the team at a time when the team can support him. I hope that happens again in March, or the following year.

”All we want is for him to be fully fit so that he can do his best. I have no doubt that with Neymar, the national team’s performance will be even better. I think that back then it would have been too early to imagine a return. If he were fit, he would already be accelerating this process for us.

“We were right not to call him up last time, especially because of what happened later, his injury. We were very cautious and safe, because we were monitoring his situation. We took the right approach. First, we want him to recover his conditions at the club, and then he returns to the national team, because he is essential, yes. I have no doubt that he will continue to grow with the team.”

When Neymar’s contract with Al-Hilal ends at the end of the current campaign, it looks like he will be leaving. The attacker’s representative maintains that there have been no discussions about terminating his contract with the Saudi team, despite reports that he may return to Santos, where his career began.

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