'Unhappy' Neymar's special request to ex-PSG star as injury issues hit home

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has made a special request to a former player of the club to help him in the midst of his latest injury problems.

The Brazil international sustained ankle ligament damage towards the end of PSG's Ligue 1 win at Saint-Etienne last month, leaving the field on a stretcher before later being spotted on crutches.

The initial assessment from the club suggested a spell of between six and eight weeks on the sidelines for the former Barcelona man, which would rule him out of action until 2022.

Neymar has suffered multiple injury issues throughout his career and not only have these taken a physical toll on the player, but they carry a psychological burden too.

The 29-year-old appears to be suffering from the reality of his latest injury setback as he does not feel optimistic and must come to terms with the injury.

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Neymar went to ground following a challenge from Saint-Etienne's Yvann Macon during the Ligue 1 clash - and has started just 76 Ligue 1 matches across four-and-a-half campaigns, well under 50 percent of the games.

To help him cope through his latest injury patch, Neymar has called his close friend Nene - aged 40 and continuing to play with Vasco da Gama - to help him through this latest period.

Nene has enjoyed a professional career stretching over two decades and is most well-known for playing for a host of Spanish clubs - Mallorca, Alaves, Celta Vigo, Espanyol - alongside French duo Monaco and PSG, alongside a short stint at West Ham.

He is now in Paris to spend time with Neymar, upon the superstar's request, to help him through his latest injury layoff and to give him moral support.

Nene has explained: "I'm here in Paris to help him and to give him everything that he needs.

The support for him, playing together, having a good time and, above all, making him laugh a little. This is so that he can concentrate on returning as soon as possible.

"He is calm, of course but he is not happy - this is a difficult moment for him and his knee is still bad.

"But I try to support him, to be with him, to tell him that he has to be positive and that this will pass soon.

"He will return in about a month and half and is doing everything possible to return soon."

Neymar now appears to be refocusing his efforts on returning to action in time for the Round of 16 of the Champions League in February, if not ahead of that date.

Neymar wrote on Instagram at the beginning of his recovery: "Let's recover, unfortunately these setbacks are part of an athlete's life.

"Now you have to raise your head and move on. I will come back better and stronger."

Neymar will be hopeful of being fit and ready for the closing months of the 2021/22 campaign.