Santos goalkeeper Rafael believes that Neymar will want to play for his club side against Atlético Mineiro on Wednesday night, just a day after representing Brazil in Poland.
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Neymar, 20, has received frequent warnings over the amount of football he is playing and neither Brazil or Santos have shown willingness to deal with the situation, despite the concerns.
Rafael insists the player himself will want to play, but it is now a question of whether those advising Neymar should be acting in his best interests, as he approaches his 57th competitive game of the calendar year.
“Knowing him, he will want to play. We haven’t talked, but, if he arrives on time and he’s refreshed, he will play,” Rafael told reporters. “We know he likes to play, he has a quick recovery period.”
Santos have adapted their style in recent games to better cope with the continued absence of their star and have acheived improved results, however the keeper insists that Neymar will still return without hesitation.
“In recent rounds we have shown a different attitude, standing firm and marking strongly in midfield, as well as attacking with speed. The team has improved, everybody has given their best,” Rafael added.
“We all know that our attack is a lot better when Neymar is available. With the quality and speed that he has, he can always surprise the opposition defence.”
