Neymar’s World Cup Hopes Depend On Fitness, Says Ancelotti

‎Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti, said Neymar’s physical condition will be crucial for his inclusion in the national team for next year’s World Cup, following the 33-year-old forward’s omission from recent qualifiers.

‎Ancelotti left Neymar out of his 23-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia, citing a minor leg muscle injury.

‎However, Neymar later said his exclusion was for technical reasons.

‎The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player has not donned the famous yellow jersey since October 2023, when he suffered serious knee ligament injuries that have plagued his comeback attempts.

‎”We are not going to observe how Neymar plays, obviously. Everyone knows his talent,” Ancelotti told ESPN Brasil on Friday.

‎”In modern football, the player has to be in good physical condition to take advantage of his talent. If he is in his best physical condition will have no problems being in the national team.

‎”Everyone wants Neymar in the national team in good physical condition. I spoke with him and I said, ‘You have time to prepare in the best way to be there and help the team try to do their best in the World Cup’.”

‎Neymar has demonstrated flashes of brilliance since returning to his boyhood club, Santos, from Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.

However, his struggles were laid bare last month when he left the pitch in tears after Santos were crushed 6-0 by Vasco da Gama.

‎Ancelotti said he envisions Neymar playing centrally, either as an attacking midfielder or as a striker.

‎”I spoke with him … Everything is clear, the idea remains the same,” Ancelotti said.

‎”He can’t play on the outside because modern football needs forwards who have physical quality, it’s very important. He can play as an attacking midfielder without problems.”

‎Brazil, already qualified for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will next play South Korea in a friendly in Seoul on October 10.