PSG star Neymar to miss rest of season with ankle injury
Paris Saint-Germain have announced that Neymar will soon undergo surgery to repair his ankle sprain and will miss the remainder of the season.
The 31-year-old has been plagued by ankle injuries for several years now and sustained his latest problem during Les Parisiens’ 4-3 win over Lille last month.
Neymar had to be stretchered off the field at the Parc des Princes, and the initial diagnosis ruled the former Barcelona man out for between three and four weeks.
PSG head coach Christophe Galtier had already ruled Neymar out of this week’s Champions League last-16 second leg with Bayern Munich, but further assessments have since stressed the need for surgical intervention.
In a medical update released on Monday evening, PSG confirmed that Neymar would go under the knife in the next few days to finally get to the root of his perennial ankle problems, and he will take between three and four months to recover.
Thriving as part of the fearsome front three with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, Neymar will end the season with 18 goals and 17 assists to his name from 29 matches in all tournaments.
The South American has scored 13 goals and set up 11 more in 20 Ligue 1 matches in the 2022-23 campaign, with only Messi (12) providing more assists in the top flight.
In total, Neymar has amassed 118 goals and 77 assists in 173 outings for PSG in all tournaments, although his future is still being called into question amid concerns over his off-field lifestyle.
Neymar is not the only PSG player in the treatment room for the long-term, as Presnel Kimpembe is also out for the rest of the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon.
On a brighter note, Achraf Hakimi and Renato Sanches are due to resume full training this week as they battle back from thigh injuries, and the former will be permitted to travel to Munich for Wednesday’s second leg despite recently being charged with rape.
End of line
