'Health comes first': Brazil coach Tite won't take any risks with Neymar ahead of World Cup as winger recovers from fractured metatarsal

  •  Neymar is currently sidelined with a fractured metatarsal
  •  The Paris Saint-Germain winger faces a battle to be fit for Brazil at the World Cup
  •  Tite insists he won't take any risks with Neymar's fitness

Brazil coach Tite has insisted that he won't take any risks with Neymar's fitness as the Paris Saint-Germain winger faces a battle for full sharpness ahead of this summer's World Cup.

Neymar suffered a fractured metatarsal during PSG's victory over Marseille on February 25 and, after undergoing surgery, it is anticipated that the winger will be out for three months.

Brazil get their World Cup campaign underway on June 17 when they face Switzerland but Tite will assess Neymar's condition before considering calling upon him. 

Neymar faces a battle to be fit for Brazil's World Cup campaign as he recovers from injury

Neymar faces a battle to be fit for Brazil's World Cup campaign as he recovers from injury

As reported by Four Four Two, Tite told a news conference: 'Neymar's father said the primary concern is the athlete's health. It is the same thing all us think. Health comes first.


'You don't pay for winning like that - whether it's the World Cup, whether it's the Brazilian national team.

'Paying the price with someone's health or rushing someone's recovery, we don't do that.'     

Brazil coach Tite insists that he won't take any risks with Neymar's fitness

Brazil coach Tite insists that he won't take any risks with Neymar's fitness

Neymar is Brazil's standout star and has scored 53 goals in 83 appearances for his country.

BRAZIL'S ALL-TIME TOP SCORERS 

1) Pele - 77 goals

2) Ronaldo - 62

3) Romario - 55

4) Neymar - 53

5) Zico - 48 

Advertisement

However, he will be unavailable as Tite's side face Russia and Germany away in friendlies later this month.

Brazil will certainly be aiming to fare better than they did at the 2014 World Cup, which they hosted, as they were thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals. 

Prior to his injury, Neymar had been enjoying an impressive first season at PSG that has seen him score 29 goals in 30 games across all competitions.