Neymar will be sidelined for between six to eight weeks with an ankle injury and will miss next week’s clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League, the player’s father has confirmed.
The 26-year-old was forced off on a stretcher in tears at the end of Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-0 win over Marseille on Sunday and scan results have since revealed a sprained ankle and fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot.
PSG manager Unai Emery on Tuesday blasted reports suggesting Neymar had decided to undergo surgery to correct the problem and still hoped the Brazil international could return against Madrid next week.
However, Neymar’s father told ESPN that his son would take no part in Tuesday’s match against Madrid at the Parc des Princes and confirmed a two-month injury lay-off.
“PSG already know they will not have Neymar in the next few games, six weeks minimum, because this treatment will last six to eight weeks,” Neymar Sr said.
“That is already certain, regardless of surgery. What we can’t do is something that may cause a fracture in the future. Yes, of course he is out against Real Madrid. It is absurd if anybody thinks otherwise.
“We are waiting on PSG to settle this, where [surgery] will happen, it is not up to Neymar to decide. It is not my decision, or his. I’m not a doctor, our family doesn’t have any doctors.
“We have to wait on the club’s decision, which they are waiting the right time to make, they are waiting the Brazilian national team doctor to arrive. Neymar will not decide this.”
It means that PSG will have to overturn a 3-1 deficit against the defending European champions without the most expensive player in football history, which is a huge blow for Emery’s side.
Elimination from the first phase of knockout matches in the Champions League would be a huge underperformance for PSG, given they outlaid more than €400m in the summer to sign the two most expensive players of all-time.
Neymar has played a direct hand in 41 goals in 27 league and European matches for PSG this season (25 goals, 16 assists). Furthermore, he is the highest WhoScored rated player in Europe’s top five leagues (8.95) and in the Champions League (9.11).
