Neymar will have his physical condition assessed by Santos before the decisive game with Remo in the Copa do Brasil By Thiago Lemos
2 min read
 |
Neymar’s participation in the decisive clash against Remo will be determined by an analysis scheduled to take place on August 3, after Santos’ training session at CT Rei Pelé.
The black and white team will face their opponent from Pará on August 4, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at the Mangueirão stadium, in a crucial dispute for a place in the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil.
Coach Cuca expressed, in a press conference on August 1st, the club’s management’s concern regarding Neymar’s physical condition and the possibility of an injury, given the several matches played after the World Cup.
Among the tests considered when deciding on Neymar’s selection is CK, a fundamental indicator in the prevention of muscle problems and a standard procedure adopted by several teams to monitor athletes’ wear and tear during intense sequences of games.
The striker, who wears the number 10 shirt, had a period of rest after the end of Brazil’s World Cup journey and returned to play on July 25, fully participating in the 2-2 draw against Chapecoense.
The star was kept out of the main squad in the match against Universidad Central de Venezuela, which took place three days later, in the Sul-Americana, but he joined the final stage and contributed to the 4-2 victory.
In the confrontation on August 1, the date of the draw against Remo in the first game of the round of 16, Neymar remained on the field throughout the match, thus completing his third sequence of games.
There is also a logistical particularity related to the game. While the Santos delegation is scheduled to travel to Belém on the afternoon of August 3, Neymar is expected in São Paulo to participate in an auction for his institute, an event scheduled to take place on the same day.
Initially, internal sources at the club indicate that this situation does not generate apprehension, even considering the length of the flight route, which, by domestic standards, lasts on average just over three hours between São Paulo and Belém.
The player plans to go on a private jet to meet the rest of the Santos squad in the capital of Pará, however, the final decision is linked to the assessment of his physical condition and the analysis of the risks of a potential injury.
After the 0-0 score at Vila Belmiro, Santos needs a triumph to guarantee its classification among the top eight in the Copa do Brasil. A new equality on the scoreboard will mean that the place will be decided on penalties, making the presence of key players like Neymar even more decisive.
