TOKYO: Tokyo caught “Neymar fever” on Thursday when the Brazilian superstar jetted into the Japanese capital sporting sunglasses, baseball cap and designer stubble on a whistle-stop visit to sign a sponsorship deal with a bed manufacturer.

The 22-year-old Barcelona forward, still recovering after fracturing a vertebra at the World Cup, was greeted by 700 screaming fans at Tokyo’s Haneda airport before being whisked off to a television studio, which rolled out a red carpet for his arrival as if for royalty.

“My back is getting better and I’m hoping to join up with my team-mates as soon as possible,” Neymar told reporters later as he perched on a foam mattress the makers claimed had secret relaxation properties.

“I have to make sure I continue the rehab and get my back fixed properly so I can be at 100 per cent. I’m really looking forward to next season,” he added.

“It’s always been my dream to play in Europe and win as many titles as possible. I’m not striving to be the world’s greatest player –– just the best player I can be in order to help Brazil.”

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014