- Title: JAPAN: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Neymar says his back is recovering
- Date: 31st July 2014
- Summary: MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZIL AND BARCELONA FORWARD, NEYMAR, SAYING: (OFFICIAL TRANSLATION) "I am recovering from my back injury after the hit I took and I'm almost 100 percent ready to go back to training with my team mates and we hope to have a great season." MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BR
- Embargoed: 15th August 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA3XVOI1KESY807MUTL2HEDEUA5
- Story Text: Brazil's striker Neymar said on Thursday (July 31) that his back is recovering and wants to make his next season great.
"I am recovering from my back injury after the hit I took and I'm almost 100 percent to go back to training with my teammates and we hope to have a great season," said the 22-year-old Brazilian star player said through a Japanese translator.
Neymar cracked a vertebra after being caught in the back by Colombia defender Juan Zuniga's flailing knee and left the pitch crying in pain during their World Cup quarter-final, which ended his tournament.
He is still recovering from the injury but looks set to make his mark next season with his club Barcelona.
"Next season I hope to do a great season together with my teammates from Barcelona and we hope to win titles, that is our goal to give joy to Barcelona fans and of course with the Brazilian national team too," Neymar said.
Neymar's four goals and exuberant play had carried the Brazilian team through the tournament, but after his substitution the emotionally fragile team collapsed, losing 7-1 to Germany in the semi-finals and 3-0 to the Netherlands in the third-place playoff. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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