Neymar had hoped it wouldn’t be serious. After picking up an injury last Monday and leaving the pitch, the Brazilian star of Al Hilal wrote on Instagram: “I hope it’s nothing major… It’s normal for something like this to happen after being out for a year. The doctors have already warned me about it, so I need to be cautious and take extra care to be able to play more.”
Unfortunately, it turned out to be more than just a minor issue. Al Hilal confirmed that Neymar has suffered a hamstring injury and will be sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks.
Yesterday, Al Hilal’s coach Jorge Jesus commented on the injury, saying, “Unfortunately, it’s not a minor injury. It seems to be a muscle problem, not a knee injury.”
A club statement confirmed the diagnosis: “An MRI showed a tear in Neymar’s hamstring. He will undergo treatment and rehabilitation, which may keep him out for 4 to 6 weeks.”
Neymar had made his return to the field on October 21 after a year-long absence, briefly coming on as a substitute in an AFC Champions League match. But in his second match back, he suffered another injury and had to leave the pitch again, just days later.
This latest setback has raised fresh concerns about Neymar’s future at Al Hilal. After joining the Saudi club from PSG last year, the 32-year-old forward has only played 7 matches so far.
Due to his prolonged absence from the field, Al Hilal didn’t register him for the Saudi Pro League this season. However, he will still be available to play in AFC Champions League matches. Al Hilal’s next game in the competition is on November 26 against Qatar’s Al Sadd. Neymar’s contract with the club runs until June next year.
