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6 years ago

Brazil forward Neymar eyes World Cup return after horrific foot injury

Reuters photo
Reuters photo

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Brazil international Neymar hopes to be fit for this summer's World Cup and says he will return to training from a broken foot on 17 May.

The Paris St-Germain forward needed surgery on a broken metatarsal bone after being injured in a league game on 25 February.

Brazil play their World Cup opening fixture against Switzerland on 17 June, a month after his expected return, according to a BBC report Thursday.

"I hope to get there in great shape," said the 26-year-old.

Neymar became the world's most expensive footballer when he joined PSG from Barcelona last August for a fee of 222m euros (£200m), and has scored 25 goals with 16 assists for the French side this season.

"I get my final examination on 17 May and then I'll be free to play," he told a news conference in Sao Paulo on Tuesday (local time), where he has been receiving treatment.

"I had an examination last week, it is all perfect, evolving well, so I hope that continues so I can get back as soon as possible."

"I am having treatment every day, and from the moment I start training I am going to work harder than I ever worked because this is a dream that's coming up. It's a World Cup. I've waited four years for this chance, it's close."

Neymar played for Brazil, who have won the World Cup five times, at the 2014 finals in his homeland, but missed their 7-1 semi-final defeat by Germany through injury.

Brazil go to Russia as joint favourites alongside champions Germany. After their opener against Switzerland in Group E, they face Costa Rica on 22 June and then Serbia five days later.

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