Barcelona striker Neymar is in good health and training with the team despite reports that he may be suffering from anaemia, the Brazilian wonderkid's new teammate Andres Iniesta told reporters Monday.
Barca's flamboyant new signing has reportedly been put on a special diet by the club's medical staff to ease signs of anaemia just days after he made his debut for the club, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais.
Anaemia is a treatable condition but is thought to be extremely debilitating for top athletes since a low level of haemoglobin in the blood can cause excessive tiredness.
But midfielder Iniesta moved to reassure fans that their star summer signing will be ready for the start of the season.
"The blood test is OK, he can practise," he said at the start of Barca's Asia tour in Bangkok, adding there "should be no problem".
The Brazilian international joined the Catalan giants in June for 57 million euros ($75.7 million, £49.5 million) and made his long-awaited debut last week in a 2-2 friendly draw against Lechia Gdasnk in Poland.
"It takes time to adjust to a new situation," Iniesta said of Neymar's adaptation to his new teammates and surroundings.
"I think Neymar seems to be close with Dani (Alves). Time will help... he has a lot of talent and he can play with the other players. It shouldn't be a problem."
Barcelona are hoping Neymar will repay his lavish transfer fee, more so with La Liga rivals Real Madrid spending heavily in the close season -- including launching an apparent world transfer record bid for Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale.
Source: AFP
