Barcelona superstar Neymar is back on Spanish soil for the first time since late May after a summer of holidays, participation at the Olympic games and now most recently World Cup qualifiers. But he's already targeting an immediate return to action.
"I'm happy to be back in Barcelona and can see myself playing on Saturday," Neymar was quoted as saying by Marca after touching back down in Catalunya.
Neymar: I see myself playing on Saturday https://t.co/VXz0gwXOsC pic.twitter.com/pS0HYwufDR
Neymar jetted off on holiday after wrapping up the 2015/16 campaign with Copa del Rey success. He didn't go to the Copa America Centenario tournament in the United States, but then joined up with Brazil's Olympic squad as his club team-mates were starting to return to Barça for pre-season.
Having secured a silver medal in London four years earlier, the 24-year-old was part of the team that finally captured Brazil's first Olympic gold in football, on home soil to boot.
Now, after spending the last week on international duty for games against Ecuador and Colombia, both wins in which he scored, Neymar has his eyes back on club football once more after well over three months away.
Despite his bust summer, the player did have significant chance to rest and was playing tournament football while his club colleagues were going through pre-season. In theory, it means he shouldn't be far short of full fitness or general match practice.
Barça, with Neymar hopeful of at least a place as a substitute, take on Alaves at Camp Nou when their La Liga season resumes on Saturday evening.
To continue the discussion on Twitter follow @jamiespencer155