Neymar Left Out of the Squad Once Again
A few days ago, Brazilian forward Neymar was not included by Carlo Ancelotti in Brazil’s squad for the upcoming friendlies. Now, Santos’ new head coach, Cuca, has also decided to leave him out for the match against Cruzeiro in the Brasileirão.
Santos Prioritizes the Recovery of Its Star Player
Santos is not going through its best moment. The team currently sits in the relegation zone, and beyond the poor results, its on-field performances have also been unconvincing. On top of that, Neymar is still regaining match fitness after an injury, and his level does not yet seem to be at its peak. That was one of the reasons he was also left out of the Brazil national team squad.
In Santos’ case, Cuca made the decision not to risk him against Cruzeiro in order to protect his physical condition. The coaching staff’s intention is clear: they want Neymar to fully recover and avoid any setback that could further complicate his situation.
A Long-Term Decision
Since his arrival, the Brazilian coach has focused on better managing the squad’s workload and reorganizing the team. He even made it clear in a press conference that Neymar’s absence is not a definitive measure, but rather a way to give him rest and time to regain his best form.
Since his return, Neymar had started every match, partly due to Santos’ urgent need to collect points and climb out of the bottom of the standings. However, Cuca is willing to do without his biggest star for now, with the intention that he will be in better condition later and help the team overcome this difficult period.
A fully fit and in-form Neymar will also be key to his ambitions of returning to a World Cup. That is why this decision was made with seriousness and understanding from the player, who is aware that resting and completing his recovery properly will be crucial to staying in contention for a spot in the Brazil national team.
Since his return to Santos, injuries have been a constant concern. In fact, he has missed a significant number of matches with the club due to physical issues. He is just coming off a knee injury, so it makes sense for the club to manage him carefully to avoid another setback. The goal is for him to contribute to Santos’ recovery while also working his way back into Carlo Ancelotti’s plans for Brazil.
