Neymar to Start Derby Amid Santos Crisis

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

The Brazilian star was pulled from Friday’s work-out just as Cuca was sharpening his game plan for the trip to fierce rivals Corinthians. For a few hours, the prospect of facing a relegation scrap and a cup mountain without their captain loomed large.

The medical staff stepped in early. Following guidance from the club’s Health Department, they chose a precautionary route and ordered rest, determined not to risk any deterioration before a decisive stretch of the season.

Santos confirmed the situation in an official note: “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 relief came quickly. Reports indicate Neymar is expected back in training on Saturday and remains on course to be available for selection in the clássico.

Cuca needs him. Desperately.

Neymar has been the heartbeat of Santos’ attack this season, with nine goals and eight assists in 24 appearances. When he plays, the Peixe carry a threat. When he doesn’t, the void is obvious.

They know that all too well. Without their captain, Santos collapsed to a damaging 3-0 defeat against Palmeiras in the Copa do Brasil, a result that left them clinging to faint hopes in the quarter-final tie.

Now the problems are stacking up again. Joao Schmidt is suspended after an accumulation of bookings. Gabriel Menino is out with a knee sprain. Cuca’s options, already thin, are being stripped away just as the calendar turns brutal.

First comes Corinthians, away, with the Campeonato Brasileiro table tightening around them. Santos sit just two points above the relegation zone; a bad night in the derby and that safety margin could vanish in a single swing of momentum.

The pressure doesn’t ease after that. Santos must then attempt to overturn that three-goal deficit against Palmeiras in the Copa do Brasil quarter-final second leg, a task that demands both belief and their best player on the pitch.

The demanding run closes with a difficult trip to Internacional before the domestic schedule pauses for the break. By then, the picture at the bottom — and in the cup — could look very different.

For Cuca and Santos, it’s simple: they need their captain fit, firing, and on the grass. The question is whether Neymar’s flu stays a footnote, or the first warning sign in a season that’s teetering on the edge.