Despite the protestations from Brazilian manager Tite that Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar was an injury risk during the friendly versus Nigeria, the PSG striker hurt his thigh in the Singapore match. The French club confirmed that Neymar will be unable to play for weeks.
The former Barcelona forward will be sidelined again in the next four weeks, PSG said in a released statement. That would mean Neymar's club, which currently leads the Ligue 1 competition, will miss him in at least two Champions League matches, ESPN reported.
The French club had already played two UCL games minus Neymar as the Brazilian had to serve suspension that was carried over from the past season.
"Neymar underwent an MRI scan this afternoon ... a medical checkup will be done in eight days, but his return to competition is expected in four weeks depending on the evolution of the injury," the statement from PSG was reported as saying.
By the team's calculations, Neymar will need to sit out until the middle of November, indicating that he could be back in action around November 20 and going forward, The Mirror reported.
It's highly likely, the publication added, that the Brazilian superstar will be back on the pitch in time for PSG's scheduled Ligue 1 game on the 23rd of the month. More importantly, Neymar should be in top form to play against Real Madrid, which PSG face next after the Ligue 1 match.
Neymar picked up his new injury in the Singapore match amid the insistence by Tite that the Brazil international was not at risk of getting hurt.
Tite issued the remarks as Neymar has just been reintegrated into the side at the Parc de Prince that resulted in a total of four goals in five Ligue 1 appearances so far. All signs convinced Tite that the Brazilian was healthy enough to play.
"It would be irresponsible and incompetent of me [to play him if he was a doubt]. I would have to receive the complaints of the coach and the president of PSG if that happened," Bleacher Report quoted Brazil's national coach as saying.
Still, Neymar ended up being pulled out just 12 minutes into the Brazil-Nigeria that went to a 1-1 draw.
ESPN said as soon as the Brazilian departed from the pitch, doctors examined him and supposedly complained only of discomfort. As it turned out, the ensuing tests revealed that he hurt his thigh, and the injury will again force him out of action.
Since joining PSG, Neymar has had three injuries that reduced him to a mere spectator as the French club continued on without him in most parts of the past two seasons. The Brazilian watched helplessly as PSG was eliminated in the last UEFA Champions League.
