Japan catches Neymer fever

TOKYO, July 31 (AFP): Tokyo caught "Neymar fever" 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.