With time to kill as his recovery treatment continues, Neymar has been making a string of media appearances back in his homeland as intrigue surrounding his chances of making Russia 2018 in peak physical condition shows no signs of wavering.
After announcing his return to training a month from now, at an event held by Chinese electronics magnate TCL midweek, Neymar similarly took to Brazil’s largest TV channel Globo in order to make a guest appearance on popular variety show Alta Horas.
Though questions on his health were obviously posed, of more interest to the host Serginho Groisman and the studio audience were the PSG attacker’s relationships with Lionel Messi and Edison Cavani.
“In my first year at Barcelona, I went through a very difficult period of adaptation where I was playing bad and not feeling confident” Neymar explained of his arrival in La Liga. “In one game, I was sort of crying – sad because I’d had a bad first half. Messi saw this - that I was completely low. He came by my side, started talking to me and said: ‘You have to be yourself. Be how you were at Santos. Play your football, dribble, shoot…Don’t be intimidated because I’m here – or because Iniesta and Xavi are too.’ ” it was continued.
“Seeing the humility of a man that won it all - who is better than everyone -asking you to be yourself and show your best, without any vanity whatsoever, was something that charmed me. I told my family and all of my friends. He helped me a lot professionally and personally, that goes without saying.”
A widely-reported on subject in these climes, Neymar cleared up speculation on supposed tensions in his relationship with Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani at PSG.
“They make it out to be more than what it is, in truth” the Brazilian international insisted. “Of course we had a bit of friction, but we sorted it out shortly after. We’re two great players, but we’re also men and we had to solve it personally, without telling anyone. But these things get blown out of proportion and people say things they shouldn’t. It gets you out of focus and takes away your concentration.” he lamented.
According to the player himself, Neymar is expected to resume training on May 17th and may even catch PSG’s last game of the Ligue 1 season. On June 3rd, his return to the national side in a friendly against Croatia at Anfield is also expected.
