PSG’s Neymar to undergo ankle surgery, will miss rest of season

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.

As a result, the Brazil international will not play again this season as PSG fight for glory domestically and continentally, and in the best case scenario, he will return to training at the start of June.

“Neymar Jr has sustained a number of instances of instability in his right ankle in recent years. Following his latest sprain on 20 February, the Paris Saint-Germain medical staff recommended a ligament repair operation to avoid a major risk of recurrence. All the experts consulted have confirmed this necessity,” the statement read.

“The surgery will be performed in the next few days at the ASPETAR hospital in Doha. It will take 3 to 4 months before he can return to training with the team.”

Since making the move to Paris from Barcelona in 2017, Neymar has spent a total of 106 games for the French champions through various fitness problems, spending three months out with a ruptured ankle ligament in the summer of 2019.

Subsequent ankle problems reared their ugly heads for Neymar in December 2020 and November 2021, but the Brazilian showcased his best form for Les Parisiens during the first half of the current campaign.

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.