Brazilian wonderkid Neymar has finally made his much awaited move to Europe, with Barcelona succeeding in capturing the highly rated striker.
After what seemed like eons with all the speculation and all the clubs propping up, it was finally Barcelona who had enough charm about them to attract Brazilian sensation, Neymar to their revered stable.
A player who was wanted by all of Europe, will now be representing the Catalan giants for the next five year and many people just cannot wait to see a player who legendary Pele has touted as the next big thing in football.
Moreover, it is after quite a long time that Barcelona have got their hands on an offensive talent from the land of Samba. The likes of Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho all became huge stars during their time at Catalonia which means that many would expect Neymar to match the feats of his predecessors.
Neymar definitely has the credentials to continue the Brazilian legacy and become an all time great at the club. At only 21 years of age the Brazilian has scored 136 goals in 225 appearances, compared to Messi who had 43 goals to his name in 106 appearances for Barcelona at the same age, however one has to acknowledge that Messi had been competing for places with world class players including the likes of Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o at that time and was successfully able to cement his place in the starting eleven.
Neymar’s quick feet and pace will surely benefit the Barcelona side and one can wonder what magic the combination of him and Messi will produce. Apart from being deadly in counterattack situations, the 21 year old is also very effective on the left flank operating as an inside forward where he has played for both his club and the national side in the past and has been largely successful.
However, one cannot call the Neymar-Barcelona affair as a match made in heaven so quickly considering the fact that the striker has a lot to prove despite showing a lot of promise during his Santos days.
Three time World Cup winner and probably the greatest player to have ever played the game Pele, has labelled the 21 year old to be his successor. A few years back, the Brazilian legend touted Robinho, a product of Santos’ youth academy just like Neymar, the next big thing in football. What happened after that, is something Neymar must be aware of.
Robinho was snapped up by Real Madrid where he struggled to live up to his billing. The player arrived in Spain amidst a lot of hype and the pressure simply got to him and he never managed to replicate the form that made him such a huge player in South America. His stint at Madrid was followed by an unsuccessful spell at Manchester City. The 29 year old who currently plays his trade at Italian side AC Milan is rumoured to be close to a move back to Santos where it all began for him.
Neymar should avoid the same fate as his fellow countryman because European football is an altogether different ball game.
Another thing that should be noted is that during his time at Santos, Neymar was given the freedom to express himself on the field any way he wanted to. In Brazil, it is quite common for coaches to encourage young talents to express themselves. Although this works out in South America, it could prove calamitous in Europe.
At Santos, Neymar had the luxury of being the focal point in the attack, something that he might not be at Barcelona where it is Lionel Messi who is the main man.
Being too individualistic is perhaps what could be Neymar’s downfall. Over the years, many coaches have admitted the player’s insistence to play individually rather than casting his lot with his teammates.
This tendency will never be encouraged at a club like Barcelona where they have the philosophy of a collective effort over individual effort. That is one of the reasons why Chile international, Alexis Sanchez failed to produce performances that made him a huge player at Italian Serie A side, Udinese.
Neymar is definitely one of the best young players in the world right now and Barcelona surely have in their ranks a star in the making. However it is important that the Brazilian is given time to adjust to the transition from a lower reputed league to one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
As for Neymar, it is important for him to change his game according to his club’s liking if he is to realise a potential that is unquestionable.
A player who was wanted by all of Europe, will now be representing the Catalan giants for the next five year and many people just cannot wait to see a player who legendary Pele has touted as the next big thing in football.
Moreover, it is after quite a long time that Barcelona have got their hands on an offensive talent from the land of Samba. The likes of Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho all became huge stars during their time at Catalonia which means that many would expect Neymar to match the feats of his predecessors.
Neymar definitely has the credentials to continue the Brazilian legacy and become an all time great at the club. At only 21 years of age the Brazilian has scored 136 goals in 225 appearances, compared to Messi who had 43 goals to his name in 106 appearances for Barcelona at the same age, however one has to acknowledge that Messi had been competing for places with world class players including the likes of Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o at that time and was successfully able to cement his place in the starting eleven.
Neymar’s quick feet and pace will surely benefit the Barcelona side and one can wonder what magic the combination of him and Messi will produce. Apart from being deadly in counterattack situations, the 21 year old is also very effective on the left flank operating as an inside forward where he has played for both his club and the national side in the past and has been largely successful.
However, one cannot call the Neymar-Barcelona affair as a match made in heaven so quickly considering the fact that the striker has a lot to prove despite showing a lot of promise during his Santos days.
Three time World Cup winner and probably the greatest player to have ever played the game Pele, has labelled the 21 year old to be his successor. A few years back, the Brazilian legend touted Robinho, a product of Santos’ youth academy just like Neymar, the next big thing in football. What happened after that, is something Neymar must be aware of.
Robinho was snapped up by Real Madrid where he struggled to live up to his billing. The player arrived in Spain amidst a lot of hype and the pressure simply got to him and he never managed to replicate the form that made him such a huge player in South America. His stint at Madrid was followed by an unsuccessful spell at Manchester City. The 29 year old who currently plays his trade at Italian side AC Milan is rumoured to be close to a move back to Santos where it all began for him.
Neymar should avoid the same fate as his fellow countryman because European football is an altogether different ball game.
Another thing that should be noted is that during his time at Santos, Neymar was given the freedom to express himself on the field any way he wanted to. In Brazil, it is quite common for coaches to encourage young talents to express themselves. Although this works out in South America, it could prove calamitous in Europe.
At Santos, Neymar had the luxury of being the focal point in the attack, something that he might not be at Barcelona where it is Lionel Messi who is the main man.
Being too individualistic is perhaps what could be Neymar’s downfall. Over the years, many coaches have admitted the player’s insistence to play individually rather than casting his lot with his teammates.
This tendency will never be encouraged at a club like Barcelona where they have the philosophy of a collective effort over individual effort. That is one of the reasons why Chile international, Alexis Sanchez failed to produce performances that made him a huge player at Italian Serie A side, Udinese.
Neymar is definitely one of the best young players in the world right now and Barcelona surely have in their ranks a star in the making. However it is important that the Brazilian is given time to adjust to the transition from a lower reputed league to one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
As for Neymar, it is important for him to change his game according to his club’s liking if he is to realise a potential that is unquestionable.
