The Brazil national team is currently in crisis after drawing to Venezuela and then losing to Uruguay during the last FIFA international break. Furthermore, the Seleção is currently without a permanent manager. Then, there’s the issue with Neymar Jr.
Neymar suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus damage last month. The 31-year-old’s move from Paris Saint-Germain to Saudi Arabia isn’t seen with good eyes by some Brazilian pundits, such as Zé Elias.
Zé Elias notes that Neymar could’ve stayed in Europe if PSG weren’t an option for him anymore. However, the pundit notes that the 2015 UEFA Champions League chose money over staying fit for the next few years leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“He still had 2-3 good seasons to offer European football. But he made a clear choice, that of money,” Zé Elias told L’Equipe (h/t Le10Sport). “And with this knee injury, it seems impossible to see him return to the highest level.
“He will go almost a year without playing, enjoying, or partying, and with an already damaged body, I don’t see him regaining his physique of 4-5 years ago.”
Whoever takes the reigns of the Brazil national team will have to ask themselves whether Neymar can play at a high level that the squad should command while playing for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
