According to ESPN, Santos has taken advantage of the March FIFA international break in Brazilian football to implement an innovative regenerative treatment program for players such as Neymar and Gabriel Barbosa.

The treatment method used is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, which accelerates physical recovery by extracting and utilizing the player’s own blood. This treatment is aimed at players experiencing physical discomfort. In addition to Neymar and Barbosa, the other two players who underwent the therapy are Meik and Zé Rafael.

It should be clarified that undergoing this treatment does not necessarily mean a player is injured. Meik is expected to be sidelined for more than 20 days. During his PRP treatment, glucocorticoids were used (a substance prohibited under anti-doping regulations), meaning Santos must wait until they are fully metabolized before the fullback can return to action.