Neymar was named in the preliminary squad for Brazil's upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia but was omitted from the matchday squad for Santos' clash against Mirassol. The Brazilian forward, who had been training with the team, was not included for the game at Maião, as confirmed by Santos. The club cited load management as the reason for his absence, with the attacking midfielder set to return for the club's next fixture against Corinthians. According to journalist Lucas Musetti, Neymar did not feel 100% during recent training sessions and is focusing on strengthening his muscle work to ensure he is fit for the Corinthians match. Santos confirmed that Neymar trained normally on Monday but will not be available for the Mirassol game due to the club's programming for managing his workload. The club also noted that he will be available for the classic encounter against Corinthians, scheduled for next Sunday at Vila Belmiro. The decision to leave Neymar out of the Santos squad for the Mirassol match aligns with the club's strategy to ensure his readiness for the Brazil squad's call-up. The friendly matches against France and Croatia are set for March 26 and 31, respectively, with the World Cup qualifiers following shortly after. Neymar's return to action came in February, where he scored two goals and provided an assist in Santos' matches against Vasco. Santos' management emphasized that Neymar's absence for the Mirassol game is part of a broader plan to maintain his fitness for the critical fixtures ahead. The club's statement highlighted that he will train with the unlisted athletes at CT Rei Pelé on Tuesday, ensuring he remains in peak condition for the Corinthians match. This approach reflects the club's commitment to balancing his club and international commitments.#neymar #santos #mirassol #corinthians #brasil
