How Neymar’s Santos schedule could look before Brazil’s final World Cup call | OneFootball

Neymar is expected to follow a tailored programme at Santos to manage his workload before Brazil’s final World Cup squad announcement on 18 May.

According to Globo.com, Santos have 14 matches across the Copa do Brasil, Copa Sudamericana and Campeonato Brasileiro before that date, and the plan is for Neymar to feature in at least half, subject to any call-up.

If selected by Carlo Ancelotti, he is likely to stop playing for the club once the list is revealed, preserving himself for a friendly on 31 May and subsequent Brazil fixtures, with an emphasis on avoiding even minor muscle issues.

It is hard to imagine him featuring away to Deportivo Cuenca in Ecuador after facing Remo at Vila Belmiro and Flamengo at the Maracanã, given the altitude and complicated travel.

A resulting breather would be followed by a four-game home stretch against Atlético-MG, Fluminense, Recoleta and Coritiba in the three competitions. That demanding sequence could rule him out of the trip to Bahia at Fonte Nova.

Santos then visit Buenos Aires to face San Lorenzo, and he is expected to travel with the squad after a positive exchange with Argentine fans online.

May opens with Palmeiras on the synthetic pitch at Allianz Parque, when he will not be available. A subsequent journey to Paraguay to face Deportivo Recoleta remains uncertain for him.

Next come Bragantino at home and Coritiba away in the Copa do Brasil decider, when his presence is likely to be requested. The final outing before the announcement is Coritiba at home in the league.

Source: Globo.com