BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Right after getting Lionel Messi back from injury, Barcelona lost Neymar for three-to-four weeks because of a right ankle sprain.
The Brazil striker was hurt in Thursday’s 2-0 Copa del Rey victory at Getafe while attempting to extend his dribble in the 22nd minute, falling under his own weight without any contact from an opposing player.
The Spanish league leaders said Friday that medical scans revealed the extent of the injury, which comes right after Messi returned from a two-month injury break.
Neymar will miss Spanish league matches against Levante, Malaga and Valencia, plus the Copa del Rey quarterfinal match against Levante.
Neymar, who has 10 goals in all competitions, has had an irregular start to his Barcelona career. The 21-year-old Brazilian developed anemia and missed games because of a hip injury and a stomach bug this season.
Also, his 57 million euro (then $74 million) move from Santos is under scrutiny as a Madrid court investigates where 40 million euros ($54 million) of the transfer fee went.
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