Neymar missed Santos training on Sunday after the 34-year-old was laid low by a viral infection, leaving his status uncertain for Tuesday’s Copa Sudamericana match against San Lorenzo in Argentina.
Santos said Neymar was unable to take part in the session at CT Rei Pelé because of illness. The club said he developed a viral condition on Saturday night, was medicated, reacted well and is being monitored by the medical department. If his health improves, he is expected to join the rest of the squad in Buenos Aires on Monday.
The setback matters because Neymar had been intended to travel with Gabigol, Willian Arao and Igor Vinicius for the trip. His absence from training also adds to concern around his place in Brazil’s upcoming World Cup squad, where every match and every minute carries extra weight.
Santos had been preparing for continental action while also juggling a compressed schedule. The squad that faced Bahia trained at Vitória’s facilities, while the players who appeared on Saturday worked on recovery at the hotel. After Tuesday’s game, Santos are scheduled to face Palmeiras on May 2 and Recoleta away on May 5, leaving little room for a slow return.
The immediate question is whether Neymar will be fit enough to board the flight to Buenos Aires at all. For Santos, that would shape a key away fixture. For the forward, it would be another test of whether his body can keep pace with the demands that still define his international future.