Neymar Surgery Report 'Totally False,' According to PSG Manager Unai Emery

Paris Saint-Germain manager Unai Emery denied a report on Tuesday that Neymar would miss the club's UEFA Champions League clash with Real Madrid after electing to undergo surgery on his fractured metatarsal that would require a two-month recovery period.

"The reports Neymar will undergo surgery are totally false," Emery said Tuesday, via El Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Espana). "Today I met with the doctor, and he told me of the full extent of the injury and the decisions to be taken regarding his recovery.

"We will see how he progresses before making a decision, and that will be made with the player himself."

ESPN FC's Jonathan Johnson also noted Emery said there is a "small chance" Neymar still may be fit to face Real Madrid.

Earlier Tuesday, AS' Fernando Kallas reported, citing sources close to the Brazilian, that Neymar had chosen to have the surgery, with the operation involving a metal plate being used to meld his metatarsal together.

Per Johnson, PSG did not include an expected time frame of recovery in their official report of Neymar's injury on Monday, though it did not seem promising:

Neymar suffered the injury in his team's 3-0 win over Marseille on Sunday, with Real's visit to the Parc des Princes for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie coming on March 6.

He was stretchered off during Le Classique, per Goal UK:

The 26-year-old then offered a visual update on his injury after the clash:

Neymar has been a crucial player for Les Parisiens this season, notching 29 goals in as many games, as well as contributing 17 assists.

PSG go into the second leg 3-1 down, so it's difficult to imagine them overturning that deficit without Neymar despite the quality they otherwise possess.

ESPN's Dermot Corrigan suggested Los Blancos' own injury worries could still tip the scale in PSG's favour:

It will aid the French side if such key players are missing for Madrid, but if Neymar—the man they brought in specifically to help them triumph on the European stage—is absent, there's no telling what kind of psychological blow that might have.

PSG already needed to summon an excellent performance to keep their Champions League hopes alive, and their task would become even harder without their star.