Neymar Removed from Team Activities After Positive COVID-19 Test

Brazilian football star Neymar da Silva Santos Junior has been sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19, his club, Santos, verified on Saturday. This development has led to his immediate removal from all team engagements.

Santos released an official statement indicating that Neymar Jr. began experiencing symptoms on Thursday, which prompted his immediate exclusion from training sessions. Subsequent medical evaluations validated the presence of the viral illness.

Club Statement

“Upon noticing the initial symptoms, Neymar was promptly isolated, and urgent laboratory testing was conducted. At present, he is receiving treatment at his residence in accordance with medical directives,” the club communicated.

The team’s leadership has not yet specified the anticipated duration of his absence resulting from the infection.

Suspension and Upcoming Match

Prior to this health concern, Neymar was already ineligible for the forthcoming match against Fortaleza due to a suspension. This was a result of accumulating two yellow cards during his recent game against Botafogo on June 2, which led to a red card and an automatic suspension for one match.

The match against Fortaleza is scheduled to be Santos’ final game before the Brazilian Serie A pauses for the Club World Cup, which is slated to occur from June 14 to July 13 in the United States.

Contract Status

Neymar’s present contract with Santos is set to conclude on June 30, and uncertainties linger regarding his future with the club.

Throughout this season, Neymar’s participation has been curtailed by recurring injuries, limiting him to 12 appearances across all competitions for Santos. In these appearances, he has recorded three goals and provided three assists.

The club has not released additional details concerning Neymar’s current condition or the specifics of his recovery strategy from COVID-19.

The 33-year-old has previously represented prominent clubs such as Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) before his tenure with Santos.