Neymar and Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti are at loggerheads after the former Barcelona and PSG star was omitted from the latest Brazil squad.
Ancelotti’s side are set to play friendlies against France and Croatia during the upcoming international break and Neymar, who has not featured for the Selecao since October 2023, was not included.
The 34-year-old, whose £198million move in 2017 remains the most expensive transfer of all time, said he is ‘sad and upset’.
‘I’m going to speak because I can’t stay silent,’ he told MadHouseTV after a Kings League game.
‘Obviously, I’m upset and sad about not being called up, but my focus remains the same: day after day, training session after training session, match after match.
‘We will achieve our goal,’ he went on to add, in reference to making Ancelotti’s final squad for the World Cup this summer.
Neymar has been dogged by injuries and is not fully fit but said he is ‘sad and upset’
Carlo Ancelotti has named his squad for the upcoming friendlies – leaving out Neymar
Neymar’s career has been blighted by injuries and he had been named in Brazil’s preliminary squad for the friendlies before being left out.
Missing a Santos game that Ancelotti was due to attend due to lingering muscle fatigue did not help his cause.
He has endured recurring ankle, knee and hamstring problems, seriously hampering any momentum of consistency over the last few years.
But Neymar remains Brazil’s top scorer, with 79 goals in 128 games and there have been flashes of brilliance for his boyhood club.
Competition is fierce for a spot in the attacking third of the pitch, so he will need to convince former Real Madrid boss Ancelotti of his form in the weeks ahead.
When asked about Neymar’s omission, the manager said: ‘Neymar could be at the World Cup. Why haven’t I called him up now? Because he’s not 100% and, at this moment, we need players who are in perfect condition.
‘The final squad list will be another story; he has to keep working and getting playing time to arrive in optimal physical condition.’
Ancelotti went on: ‘The explanation for the list is that it depends a lot on the players, obviously. It’s a squad created with players who are 100% fit. Everyone who plays, since we have important names like Militao, Bruno Guimaraes, Estevao, Rodrygo… to whom I wish a speedy recovery.
‘But this is a list of those who are physically fit, because we want to play two very important, high-intensity matches with a very short break, including travel. Taking into account the positions of some players I don’t know, like Ibáñez, Bremer, Rayan, Danilo, Gabriel Sara… it’s a last chance to meet with them and make a final roster as clear as possible.’
Neymar is Brazil’s top scorer in history and still believes he will make the World Cup squad
With Neymar’s body repeatedly breaking down, he recently spoke about the potential of retirement.
When asked about his future plans by CazeTV via UOL, he said: ‘I don’t know what will happen from now on. It could be that December arrives and I want to retire. I’m living year by year.
‘There’s this year, which is very important not only for Santos, but for the Brazilian national team, and for me as well.’
