Neymar Jr. returned to his club, Paris Saint Germain (PSG), this week after spending over three months in his home country, Brazil, where he has been observing the coronavirus lockdown most parts of the world have been subjected to since March.
While in Brazil, the 28-year-old winger was involved in different degrees of training which were often supervised by his personal fitness trainer, Ricardo Rosa. He never failed to update his over 139 million Instagram followers about some of his activities in the samba country.
The lockdown period was not completely rosy for the most expensive player in the world as he had issues with the Brazilian government for allegedly breaching the lockdown guidelines. Neymar debunked the allegation saying he never stepped out of his house since he returned home but only came into the country with some friends who also spent their stay within his mansion.
Like other players at PSG, Neymar was not just allowed to reunite with the club without following the protocol. When he arrived, he was tested for coronavirus and fortunately for him, the test returned negative.
Still, before he joined the rest of the squad, he was subjected to fitness test which he also passed, meaning that the skilful Brazilian star is set to take on the world of football.
Though PSG has won the French Ligue 1 title with about 9 games left to play, the club had to reunite in preparation for the UEFA Champions League mini-tournament which would take place in Portugal.
The draws for the tournament is scheduled to take place on July 10 and the tournament itself will take place between 12 to 15 August 2020. It will be played in the form of the FIFA World Cup; that is, it won’t be the usual two legs format but just one.
UEFA had to change the format of the tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic that halted the European prestigious competition since March. Before it was halted, PSG had already qualified for the quarter-final round.
So, Neymar and the rest of his teammates are preparing to make history in the tournament as the club is yet to win it for over 49-year since the club was established.
The 28-year-old Brazilian star wrote on his official website that he is ready and excited to return, adding that he has been thinking a lot about the Champions League.
“We have a strong group, conquered a historical qualification, with the same intensity and dedication, but I miss the heat of the game”, he wrote. “I can barely wait to enter the pitch and if it’s God’s will, make history.”
