Tuesday 27 February 2018 14:28, UK
Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery has denied reports Neymar will undergo surgery after breaking his right foot and spraining the ankle.
Neymar was injured on Sunday as the Ligue 1 leaders beat Marseille 3-0. Tests showed he has a cracked fifth metatarsal in his right foot along with an ankle injury.
On Tuesday, Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte reported Neymar would go under the knife to fix the cracked bone in his foot but Emery insists no decision has been made.
"For Neymar there has been no decision to have an operation," said Emery. "Last night [Monday] the club issued an official statement: it said how the player was medically.
"Things [like operations] aren't decided just like that. You need discussions with the doctor, the player, his entourage.
"To make such an important decision you need tranquility and a bit of patience.
"Right now, I don't think you need anything else. There's a lot of information from outside, but the truth is what I told you, which is what the doctor told me."
Emery admits it is looking unlikely Neymar will be fit to face Real Madrid in the return leg of their last 16 Champions League tie but did not completely rule it out.
PSG trail 3-1 from the first leg in Madrid two weeks ago and the loss of Neymar would be a huge blow to their chances of overturning that deficit at the Parc des Princes on March 6 and reaching the Champions League quarter-finals.
"Today, after analysing Neymar, it looks less likely than it did on Sunday that he'll be ready for this match," said Emery.
"Neymar is the first to want to play every match, he's very focused on Real. I think there's a small chance that he'll be ready for the match."
While PSG's primary concern is having the world's most expensive player available for their Champions League match next week, in Brazil it is Neymar's participation at the World Cup that is most important.
The 26-year-old captained Brazil to their first ever Olympic gold medal 18 months ago on home soil and is seen as crucial to their hopes in Russia in June and July.
Were he to undergo an operation now and return to fitness in May, that would suit Brazil, who could rely then on a fully fit and fresh Neymar for the World Cup.
