Barcelona's Brazilian star Neymar will miss the Copa America
Cetenario in the United States in June, but will be released to represent his
country at the Rio Olympics in August, the Catalan giants announced on
Wednesday.
"FC Barcelona thanks the Brazilian football federation
and their president Marco Polo del Nero, who have accepted the proposal made by
the club that Neymar only play in the Olympic Games in Brazil in 2016, which
take place between 3-21 of August," the club said in a statement.
"In this way, Neymar is freed from playing in the Copa
America which will be played in the United States between 3-26 of June."
Brazil coach Dunga had been hoping to have his captain
available for both tournaments, but Barcelona have insisted that Neymar needs
to have adequate rest over the summer before the start of the next season.
Fifa regulations demand that clubs release players for
tournaments on the international calendar A-list which includes the Copa
America, but not the
Olympics which does not figure on the global body's
international schedule. Neymar, 24, will be one of the three players over the
age of 23 who are allowed to feature in an Olympic football squad.
The Olympics are the only international competition Brazil
have failed to win and Neymar was part of the side that lost the gold medal
match against Mexico in London four years ago.
Neymar scored for the first time in six games as Barca
bounced back from a three-game losing run to smash Deportivo la Coruna 8-0 and
remain top of La Liga.
However, a large part of Barca's dip has been blamed on the
fatigue suffered by their star South American front three of Neymar, Luis
Suarez and Lionel Messi due to their commitments in six competitions with Barca
this season on top of their national teams.
Fitness permitting, Messi and Suarez will represent
Argentina and Uruguay respectively at the Copa America.
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