Neymar visits crocked Gabriel Jesus in hospital as Pep Guardiola admits the striker’s season could be over after undergoing surgery
The Brazilian - who is recovering in a Spanish hospital - was all smiles as posed for a picture with the Barcelona ace
NEYMAR visited Gabriel Jesus in hospital after Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admitted he may not return this season.
The teenage Brazilian has made a huge statement since arriving in January, becoming Guardiola's first choice striker after three goals in his first five games.
His impact was so immediate that he kept one of the world's best strikers Sergio Aguero on the subs bench - before limping off the pitch in tears in the recent win against Bournemouth.
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But Jesus had surgery on Thursday for a broken metatarsal in his right foot in Barcelona, with Guardiola's trusted surgeon Dr Ramon Cugat.
And Barcelona superstar Neymar posed for a picture after visiting his Brazil team-mate to wish him well.
The 19-year-old appears to be recovering well, with City posting a picture on Twitter of a smiling star from his hospital bed.
But in his pre-match press conference ahead of City's FA Cup fifth round tie away at Huddersfield on Saturday, Guardiola admitted is unsure when Jesus will return.
The Etihad chief expects his absence to be between two and three months - meaning it could be next campaign.
Guardiola said: "Yesterday night he had an operation. It was really good. What's important now is a good recovery.
"I don't know if it's the end of the season, next season. Now we must be calm, give our support to his family and wait for him to come back.
Asked if he will return this season, Pep added: "I don't know. They say between two and three months."
Having broken his metatarsal, City medics reportedly gave the £27million signing from Palmeiras the option of physio or surgery.
The former meant he would be back sooner, within a month, but could damage the area again and potentially with a more serious outcome - so he chose the operation.
While the injury is a cruel blow to Guardiola's title aspirations, he knows in Aguero he has one of the very best to fall back on to take the place of Jesus, having netted against the Cherries in midweek.
The Argentine has began the last three matches on the bench, but will now return to partner the attacking trio alongside Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling.
Aguero's future has been thrown into doubt following Guardiola's decision to drop him but the manager has no doubts that he come back strong and be back to his best for the run-in.
He added: "I don't have doubts. He has to do what he has done since the beginning of his career. Nothing more.
"It's not easy for the player who does not play. Sergio was more than professional."