Napoli’s defeat at Villarreal has brought a further cost for Massimiliano Allegri’s side, with David Neres joining an already crowded injury list after the Champions League trip to Spain.
The Brazilian winger picked up a muscle problem during the match, which Napoli lost after surrendering their advantage and being beaten in the comeback. Tests carried out at Pineta Grande Hospital have confirmed a low-grade injury to the semimembranosus muscle in his right thigh.
Neres begins rehabilitation
Napoli said Neres had felt muscular discomfort during the Villarreal fixture and has already begun his rehabilitation programme.
The setback adds another concern for Allegri at a demanding point of the season. Napoli return from Europe with both the result and the physical consequences to manage, as the coach works through an injury situation that has increasingly narrowed his options.
Neres’ availability for the next fixtures will depend on how he responds to treatment, but the club’s diagnosis confirms that the wide player will require a recovery period before he can be considered for selection again.
