Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Thursday that Neymar Jr will not be replaced in the country's World Cup squad despite a fresh calf injury, and that the forward is expected to travel with the team to the United States.
Ancelotti told reporters at the national team base in Teresopolis that he plans to keep his 26-man group unchanged. He said Neymar could be available for Brazil's opening Group C match against Morocco on June 13 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, or at the latest for the second fixture.
The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed the problem after Neymar underwent scans on Wednesday. Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said an MRI showed a grade-two strain in the right calf, a partial tear that will require two to three weeks of recovery.
Neymar had reported for camp on Tuesday but missed training after complaining of swelling. The diagnosis differs from an initial assessment by Santos, which had described only inflammation.
As a result, the 34-year-old will sit out Sunday's friendly against Panama at the Maracana and the subsequent warm-up against Egypt in Cleveland, and is likely to miss the Morocco opener.