SAO PAULO (AP) - Neymar still has fears weeks out from the World Cup in Russia about the right foot he broke.
In an interview published on Friday, the Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain striker said treatment has worked “but there is always that fear of it (the injury) coming back.”
“I need to lose that fear as quickly as possible to arrive at the World Cup at my best,” Neymar said in an interview on Zico’s YouTube channel. “In the beginning we are hesitant about making the complete movement.”
He cracked the fifth metatarsal that connects to the little toe in his right foot, and a week later, on March 3, he underwent surgery in Brazil. The diagnosis was he would be out for up to three months.
This week, Neymar returned to Paris to continue his rehabilitation, and is not expected to play for PSG, who signed him for a record 222 million euros (now $265 million) last August from Barcelona.
The interview took place at his mansion in Mangaratiba, outside Rio de Janeiro.
Neymar said this season has been the least he’s ever played, so he is rested for the World Cup that begins on June 14 in Moscow.
He said what he misses the most about his Barcelona days was his friendship with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Brazil’s first game at the World Cup is on June 17 against Switzerland. Serbia and Costa Rica are also in their group.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.