Neymar's Expected Return for Santos Derby Against Corinthians

Neymar Jr. missed Santos’ tactical session at CT Rei Pelé after coming down with mild flu symptoms, briefly jolting the club’s preparations on the eve of a crucial derby.

As Cuca fine‑tuned his game plan for the trip to fierce rivals Corinthians, his captain was nowhere to be seen on the training pitch. The absence raised immediate alarm around a side already walking a tightrope near the relegation zone in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Santos quickly moved to calm the noise. Following guidance from the club’s Health Department, the medical staff chose to rest the forward as a precaution, keen not to risk any deterioration before a defining stretch of fixtures.

In an official statement, the club confirmed: “The athlete Neymar Jr. presented flu-like symptoms and was rested from Friday's (August 28) training session, following advice from the Health Department.”

Reports indicate he is due back in training on Saturday and remains in contention to start the clássico.

The timing matters. Neymar has been the heartbeat of Santos’ attack this season, with nine goals and eight assists in 24 appearances. When he is on the pitch, the Peixe look dangerous; without him, they have already paid a heavy price.

They know that all too well. In the Copa do Brasil, Santos were dismantled 3-0 by Palmeiras when forced to line up without their captain, a defeat that now hangs over their quarter-final tie like a storm cloud.

Cuca’s selection puzzle does not end with Neymar. Joao Schmidt is suspended after an accumulation of bookings, stripping the midfield of experience and bite. Gabriel Menino is also out, sidelined by a knee sprain, leaving the coach to reshuffle once again in a period when stability is at a premium.

The stakes at Corinthians are brutal and simple. Santos sit just two points above the relegation zone. A positive result in the derby could buy breathing space; a defeat could drag them straight back into the mire.

And this is only the start of a punishing run. After facing Corinthians, Santos must attempt the near-impossible: overturning that three-goal deficit against Palmeiras in the Copa do Brasil quarter-final second leg. Then comes a demanding away trip to Internacional, one last hurdle before the domestic calendar pauses for the break.

For Cuca and Santos, having Neymar fit and firing is not a luxury. It is the thin line between a season revived and a campaign spiralling out of control.