Santos show grit, but Neymar still has much to prove for Seleção | OneFootball

Marcelo Baseggio

Santos drew 0-0 with Fluminense this Sunday at Vila Belmiro, in the 22nd round of the Brazilian Championship, with the main highlight being Neymar's return to the team after recovering from an adductor edema.

The number 10 for Santos played the full 90 minutes, showing that perhaps the decision not to call him up for the Brazilian National Team was unnecessary. But, judging by his performance this Sunday, Neymar justified his absence from coach Carlo Ancelotti’s list.

Although he recently stated in an interview that he no longer needs to prove anything to anyone, Neymar does, in fact, have to show everyone that he deserves a spot on the National Team again. It's true that the current moment for the Seleção isn’t the best, but his presence among the best Brazilian players today, for now, isn’t justified.

Neymar is far from his best version. Against Fluminense, he had enormous difficulty shaking off the opposing defense, finding space, and making a difference in the match, as he has been accustomed to doing in recent years.

Technically, Neymar remains a standout player, but his individual impact was reduced to short passes and a few fouls suffered. For those who expected a devastating performance from the Brazilian star in his return to domestic football, disappointment is the prevailing feeling for now.

Aside from the number 10, Santos showed some improvement in Juan Pablo Vojvoda’s debut as head coach, especially in the second half against Fluminense, when the team was dominant and created some goal-scoring opportunities.

There is still a long road ahead if Santos wants to avoid trouble in the Brazilian Championship. The team’s situation is still alarming, as they remain close to the relegation zone, and their progress will depend greatly on what Neymar can contribute both individually and collectively. For now, it’s very little.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.