Neymar Suspects Latest Injury Nothing More Serious Than Cramp

Neymar had to leave Monday’s Asian Champions League Elite game because of an injury, but the Al-Hilal forward claimed it was just a bad cramp.

The Brazilian, who limped off 30 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute in Al-Hilal’s 3-0 win over Esteghlal, said doctors had warned him about the potential for muscle issues following his return from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The 32-year-old returned to action two weeks ago, having been out since Brazil’s CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October last year when he suffered the injury.

“It felt like a cramp, only very strong!” Neymar posted on Instagram. “I’m going to have some tests, and I hope it’s nothing too serious.

“It’s normal for this to happen after a year; the doctors had already warned me, so I have to be careful and play more minutes.”

Neymar has played only seven games for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal since moving from Paris St Germain for a reported fee of around 90 million euros ($97.90 million) in August last year.