Neymar to Miss Two Weeks of Training in Fresh Setback, Says Al Hilal Coach

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

Brazilian football star Neymar Santos will be sidelined from training for at least two weeks after sustaining a muscle injury in his second game back from a long-term knee injury, according to his coach at Al Hilal, Jorge Jesus.

The injury occurred just 26 minutes into Neymar’s second-half substitution during Al Hilal’s 3-0 victory over Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League Elite match on Monday.

The 32-year-old, who joined the Saudi club Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in a high-profile transfer in 2023, had been out for over a year due to surgery on his right knee.

Though his knee has healed, the Brazilian superstar now faces complications with muscle issues, Jesus explained.

“Neymar, it’s not an easy case,” said the Portuguese coach. “Medically, his knee is healed, but because he hasn’t played for a long time, he’s dealing with muscle problems now. I don’t know how long he will be out, but it will be at least two weeks.”

Al Hilal, current champions of the Saudi Pro League, did not register Neymar for this season’s league games, which started last month, but he has been listed to play in the AFC Champions League Elite, Asia’s top club competition. Neymar’s contract reportedly includes a yearly salary of approximately 100 million euros ($112 million).

Following his injury, Neymar posted on Instagram, explaining, “It felt like a cramp, but very strong! I’ll do some tests and hope it’s nothing more serious. It’s normal for this to happen after being out for a year. The doctors had warned me, so I need to take care and gradually play more minutes.”

The setback has raised concerns about Neymar’s readiness and fitness after such an extended recovery period, as Al Hilal looks to manage his return carefully to avoid further injuries