Khaberni - Brazilian coach Mano Menezes, the new technical director for the Peru national team, gave advice to his compatriot Neymar da Silva, the star of Santos, and spoke about his opinion on the possibility of the latter participating with "Seleção" in the World Cup finals scheduled next summer in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
During his introduction as coach of the Peru national team, Menezes (63 years old) discussed Neymar's case, whom he had previously coached during his tenure as head of the technical management of the Brazil national team between 2010 and 2012.
Menezes said: "In 2011, I was in Arequipa (a Peruvian city) during the Copa America Under-20 for scouting the Brazil youth team, and six months after that tournament, we had six or seven players in the senior national team."
He added: "The renewal process was so significant that we still have players who will participate in the upcoming World Cup (2026) who appeared in that tournament in 2011."
Menezes listed those names: "We had Danilo, Alex Sandro, Casemiro, and also Neymar, the latter if he can maintain his fitness for a longer period and stop excessive dancing, perhaps we could see him in the World Cup."
Menezes's Career with Brazil
During Menezes's era with the Brazil national team, "Samba dancers" won 21 matches, drew 5, and lost 7, according to data from the well-known website "Transfermarkt".
Menezes led Brazil in the 2011 Copa America, where "Seleção" was eliminated from the quarter-finals by losing against Paraguay with two goals to none.
Throughout his long coaching career, Menezes has managed many top Brazilian clubs like Grêmio, Corinthians, Flamengo, Cruzeiro, Internacional, and Fluminense, and he also had a brief stint in Arabian football, coaching Saudi club Al-Nassr for just 5 months in 2021.
Neymar's Efforts to Participate in the 2026 World Cup
Currently, Neymar is making great efforts to return to the fields after the surgery he underwent due to a cartilage injury in his left knee.
Upon his expected return in about a month from now, Neymar will strive to perform exceptionally with his current team Santos, hoping to convince the Italian Carlo Ancelotti, the current coach of the Brazil national team, to call him up for the squad participating in the 23rd edition of the World Cup.
The Brazil national team, holding the record for the most World Cup wins (5 times), will play in the upcoming World Cup in Group Three alongside the teams of Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland.
