Jorge Valdano has no doubts about Neymar‘s talent and praised the Brazilian forward’s progress at Barcelona in his column in the Mexican newspaper Récord: “Neymar is becoming more of a game-changer with every year that passes. In the first year he acted as Messi’s water carrier, in the second he became a partner in crime and at this point he takes as many liberties as he wants because he feels like a star man”.
The former Real Madrid director of football also waxed lyrical about Neymar’s joie de vivre: “He projects the image of a happy guy who carries that happiness out on to the pitch. His brand of football is fun and freewheeling. It’s artistic the way he marries his superior technique to his playful imagination. He offers us something original, beautiful and effective”.
Lastly, Valdano gave his take on the Brazil international’s signature trickery, stating that it’s part and parcel of Neymar’s “style” and suggesting that it takes “bravery” to play the way he does, while admitting that “sometimes he goes to lengths that his detractors consider provocative”. “If Messi represents the old-time footballer because of his classic style and Ronaldo the footballer of the future because of his physical exuberance and robotic movement, then next up comes Neymar, the pop footballer”, the 1986 World Cup winner added.
Bron:Marca
