Neymar's Brazil Return: Manager Ancelotti Shares Big Update

Last Updated:September 13, 2025, 16:08 IST

Carlo Ancelotti says Neymar's Brazil return depends on his fitness, not talent. Neymar, now at Santos, must regain top physical shape after injuries to rejoin the national team.

Neymar had earlier stated that he wanted to play his 'last World Cup' (X)

Brazil men’s football coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that ‘everything is clear’ regarding Neymar’s comeback to the national side, with all of it hinging on the 33-year-old getting back to his best physical shape to deal with the increasing demands of modern football.

Neymar has not donned the famous yellow since October 2023. He suffered serious knee ligament injuries that have hindered his comeback attempts. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar was left out of Ancelotti’s 23-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia, with the coach attributing it to a minor leg muscle injury. But the forward later said it was due to technical reasons.

“We are not going to observe how Neymar plays, obviously. Everyone knows his talent," Ancelotti told ESPN Brasil on Friday. “In modern football, to take advantage of his talent, the player has to be in good physical condition. If he is in his best physical condition, he will have no problems being in the national team. Everyone wants Neymar in the national team in good physical condition. I spoke with him and I said, ‘You have time to prepare in the best way to be there and help the team try to do their best in the World Cup’."

Ancelotti added that he no longer sees Neymar as a winger and wants him either more inside or up top as a number nine.

“I spoke with him … Everything is clear, the idea remains the same," Ancelotti said. “He can’t play on the outside because modern football needs forwards who have physical quality; it’s very important. He can play as an attacking midfielder without problems."

Neymar has shown flashes of brilliance since returning to his boyhood club, Santos, from Saudi side Al-Hilal, though the level of both competitions isn’t comparable to Ligue 1 or La Liga. Even in Brazil, he has lacked consistency, which was laid bare when he was seen tearing up on the pitch after Santos’ 6-0 defeat to Vasco da Gama.

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