Neymar Misses Training Due To Virus, Spot On Brazil's World Cup Squad At Risk

Neymar's hopes of securing a place in the Brazil squad for the upcoming World Cup have hit another hurdle following his absence from Santos training on Sunday. 

The forward was a notable absentee at the CT Rei Pele as the squad prepares for continental action, having been laid low with a viral infection.

Santos have confirmed that Neymar was unable to participate in Sunday’s training session at CT Rei Pelé due to illness. 

The 34-year-old was expected to join teammates who did not travel for the Saturday league fixture against Bahia, but he remained sidelined as the squad prepares for Copa Sudamericana competition. 

Santos released an official statement to clarify the situation following concerns over his whereabouts on Sunday morning. 

"The athlete Neymar Jr. presented a viral condition on Saturday night, was medicated, reacted well and continues to be monitored by the Santos medical department," the club said.

(AFP)

The timing of the illness is far from ideal for both player and club. Santos are currently preparing for a pivotal Copa Sudamericana clash against San Lorenzo in Argentina, scheduled for Tuesday. 

Neymar’s participation remains a doubt as he battles to recover from the infection in time for the trip to Buenos Aires. Neymar was intended to work alongside other high-profile team-mates such as Gabigol, Willian Arao, and Igor Vinicius. 

These players were also absent from the match against Bahia but are expected to be available for selection under manager Cuca for the trip to Argentina.

Every minor setback for Neymar is now viewed through the lens of his international future. With the World Cup approaching, the forward is under intense pressure to prove his physical reliability and match sharpness. 

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