By Antonis Stroggylakis / astroggylakis@eurohoops.net
Jakarta, Indonesia – Brazil star guard Raul Neto visited his national team comrades at World Cup practice Sunday (27/8) before leaving for Utah, USA where he will undergo knee surgery.
Neto suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee early in the second half of his team’s World Championship opening win over Iran Saturday (26/8).
It was the 31-year-old player’s first appearance with Brazil since the 2016 Olympic Games.
Brazil players were shocked to see Neto getting hurt and some of them even broke into tears while he was on the floor. Veteran guard Marcelinho Huertas, who was near Neto in the moment of his injury had little doubt of the seriousness of the situation that was confirmed when his teammate underwent the MRI at a Jakarta hospital.
Neto had discussed how eager he is to join his new team Fenerbahce Beko in EuroLeague for the next season. After his injury, he’s expected to miss 2022-23 completely.
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Brazil will next face Spain Monday (28/8). Both teams are looking to improve to 2-0.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL