Neymar Expected to Be Fit for Santos Derby Clash

Neymar Jr. missed Santos’ key tactical session at CT Rei Pelé after coming down with mild flu symptoms, briefly jolting the club’s preparations for a high-stakes derby against Corinthians.

As Cuca drilled his side for the trip to their fierce rivals, his captain watched from the sidelines. Santos’ medical department chose caution, pulling the forward out of Friday’s work to avoid any risk of his condition worsening on the eve of a critical stretch in the season.

The club moved quickly to calm nerves, issuing an official statement on the star’s status: “The athlete Neymar Jr. presented flu-like symptoms and was rested from Friday's (August 28) training session, following advice from the Health Department.”

The expectation inside the club is that Neymar will return to training on Saturday and remain available for selection in the derby. For Santos, that matters enormously.

Their No. 10 has been the heartbeat of the attack this season, with nine goals and eight assists in 24 appearances. When he plays, Santos look dangerous. When he doesn’t, the drop-off is brutal. The 3-0 collapse against Palmeiras in the Copa do Brasil, when they had to cope without their captain, still stings around Vila Belmiro.

Now Cuca must juggle more problems. Joao Schmidt is suspended after an accumulation of bookings. Gabriel Menino is out with a knee sprain. The margin for error shrinks by the day.

All of this lands as Santos hover dangerously close to the Campeonato Brasileiro relegation zone, just two points clear of the drop. A positive result against Corinthians is not just about bragging rights; it’s about survival.

And the schedule offers no mercy. After the derby, Santos must try to overturn a three-goal deficit against Palmeiras in the second leg of their Copa do Brasil quarter-final. Then comes a punishing away trip to Internacional before the domestic calendar pauses for the break.

Neymar’s brief flu scare may prove only a footnote. Or, given the stakes of the next three games, it could be the moment that decides whether Santos step into this decisive run at full strength or on the brink.