RIO DE JANEIRO/PARIS: Brazil’s team doctor has said that Neymar will be out for up to three months ahead of imminent surgery on a foot injury suffered at the weekend playing for Paris Saint-Germain against Marseille in the French league.

The Brazilian superstar will thus miss the rest of the French season including next week’s Champions League return against Real Madrid and could return only just in time for the World Cup finals in Russia in June and July.

Brazil’s team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said Neymar will need up to three months to recover from a fractured metatarsal and sprained ankle whichwillbe addressed by surgery in Belo Horizonte on Saturday.

Lasmar added: “The recovery period will be between two and a half to three months. hat depends a lot on his post-surgery recovery. We will have more details after the procedure.”

Five-times World Cup winners Brazil kick off their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 17.

Lasmar said: “We have time to recuperate him and it will all be done to ensure he is ready as quickly as possible so that he will have enough time to prepare adequately and arrive in top condition for the tournament.

“Neymar is, of course, upset, sad, down. But he understands that there is no option now other than to recuperate and dedicate himself to recuperating so he can be as good as soon as possible.”

A statement from PSG, who paid a world record €222m to sign Neymar from Barcelona last summer, said: “After tests, and with the player’s agreement, it has been decided that surgery is the best option. He will be operated on in Brazil at the end of the week.”

Neymar has scored 28 goals and provided 16 assists for the Ligue 1 leaders this season.

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