Neymar coaching with Brazil. (Credit: Twitter)
Neymar left Paris Saint-Germain for Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal however hasn’t but performed for his new membership. He mentioned in a press convention Thursday that the Saudi Pro League might be pretty much as good as France’s Ligue 1 — if not higher.
Brazil striker Neymar mentioned he isn’t absolutely match to play within the two opening rounds of World Cup qualifying because of the proper ankle harm that has sidelined him since February.
Neymar left Paris Saint-Germain for Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal however hasn’t but performed for his new membership. He mentioned in a press convention Thursday that the Saudi Pro League might be pretty much as good as France’s Ligue 1 — if not higher.
Brazil will play its first match in World Cup qualifying on Friday within the Amazon metropolis of Belem in opposition to Bolivia. Then the Selecao will journey to face Peru on Tuesday. Neymar mentioned he has come for worldwide obligation in comparable kind up to now and nonetheless performed.
Lista anunciada! ✍️O treinador Fernando Diniz divulgou os 23 nomes que integrarão o elenco da Seleção Brasileira Masculina nas duas primeiras rodadas das Eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo 2026.
O primeiro jogo será contra a Bolívia e está marcado para o dia 8 de setembro, no… pic.twitter.com/j46QSt8Med
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) August 18, 2023
“I feel well, happy, but obviously I am not 100% fit. But my head is well, my body is well,” the 31-year-old Neymar mentioned. “I was going to play the latest match (of Al Hilal), but I was hit during training and the coach chose to leave me out, so I could come to Brazil.”
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Neymar’s most-recent match for Brazil was the World Cup quarterfinal loss to Croatia. He left Qatar with doubts about his future in the national team and did not play the Selecao’s first three games this year.
Now Neymar’s doubts seem to be over.
“After a lot of pressure from family and friends (to return to the national team) you start giving value to everything you did,” Neymar mentioned. “When you are with your people, your family, they put you in your place and make you see it is worth to continue being happy by wearing Brazil’s shirt.”
Neymar needs one goal to move past Pelé (77 goals) as top scorer for the national team in official matches, a feature that the Brazilian soccer confederation is not keen to celebrate due to its different count of the tally; it says the three-time World Cup winner has 95 goals.
Neymar agreed that the mark is another incentive for him to play for Brazil, though.
“It is hard to know what that record means, but it does mean a lot,” the striker said. “No one ever thought about overcoming that. It is something I will respond after it is done.”
Neymar, who faced criticism from fans in France in recent years and left PSG amid reports he was not wanted at the club, took a swipe at his previous league during the press conference.
Asked how he would keep competitive in a league outside Europe, Neymar said: “I assure you that soccer there (in Saudi Arabia) is the same. The ball is round, there’s a goal, and if you look at the names that have gone to the Saudi league… I don’t know whether it is better than the French league or not.”
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“I want to win titles for Al Hilal, my head won’t change much. Everyone said the same when I went to France (about competitiveness), and it was the place I was hit the most in my life,” Neymar added. “I am sure that it won’t be easy to win the Saudi championship, other teams got stronger, have famous players. It will be very interesting and I am sure you will be watching.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)
Source: www.news18.com
