Brazilian star striker Neymar is on his way to make a full recovery as he eyes returning to the pitch for FC Barcelona which is gearing up for a friendly in mid-August.

Hundreds of fans greeted Neymar, who won the 2014 FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot, at Haneda Airport in Tokyo Thursday where he is scheduled to film an advertisement for a mattress company.

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The 22-year-old Neymar fractured his third lumbar vertebra in his spine after accidentally being kneed in the back by Colombian fullback Camilo Zuniga in their quarterfinals match-up in Brazil, which they won 2-1.

When asked on the condition of his back by reporters at the promotional event in Japan, Neymar answered that his back is improving daily and is "almost 100 percent."

He is scheduled to return to Barca on August 5 where he would join his team for practice.

Neymar said he hopes to have a good season at the La Liga. "I'm looking forward to helping my teammates to get some good results," he said.

Team Barca will play Mexico's Club Leon in a friendly match at Camp Nou in Barcelona on August 18, with the winners being awarded with the Joan Gamper Trophy.

Barca plays at the Primera Division of La Liga, which starts on August 24. They placed second last year.

Barcelona's first match at La Liga will be against Elche CF which Neymar hopes to be fit to play.

Columbian star James Rodriguez, who top-scored at the last World Cup, recently signed a six-year deal with Real Madrid.

He joins a multitude of football stars including Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Wales' Gareth Bale, French Karim Benzema. The team also acquired Toni Kroos of the World Cup champions' Germany.

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