Zé Rafael hopes Neymar returns soon, questions criticism of star | OneFootball

Neymar has been absent from Santos for almost a month, and with the team close to the relegation zone, there is anxiety for the return of the number 10 to try to help the team out of this situation. Midfielder Zé Rafael lamented some of the criticism faced by his teammate and hopes the star returns as soon as possible.

“Neymar is a very dear, special guy, he has all the affection. It’s a complicated moment he’s going through, we know how much an athlete longs to play, how much he hopes to deliver results for himself, for who he is, and sometimes I think he ends up paying the price for things that are beyond his control,” lamented Zé Rafael.

“We are saddened by the moment, but we know he is coming back, he is prepared. He has been dedicated to returning as soon as possible and I hope he can come back soon. He is a reference in our team: technically, as a leader… so I hope he can be with us as soon as possible,” he concluded.

Neymar's Injury

Neymar suffered a rectus femoris muscle injury in his right thigh during a training session on September 19. Since then, the attacking midfielder has missed games against São Paulo, Red Bull Bragantino, Grêmio, and Ceará. His last appearance was in the 1-1 draw with Atlético-MG on September 14.

When will Neymar return?

Santos' Medical Department has not set a deadline for the return of the number 10. However, there is an expectation that the attacking midfielder will be available to coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda for the match against Fortaleza, which takes place on November 3, in the 31st round of the Brasileirão.

Santos' Situation in the Brazilian Championship

Santos is in the 16th position, with 28 points, three more than Vitória, which opens the relegation zone. Under Vojvoda, the team has four draws, one win, and one loss. This setback happened in the last round: 3-0 to Ceará, at Castelão. Now, the Alvinegro Praiano seeks a reaction against Corinthians, their next opponent after the FIFA date.

Next Santos Game

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.