Barcelona: Barcelona’s new recruit Neymar says he is living a boyhood dream after completing a high-profile move from Santos at the end of May and joining up with his idol Lionel Messi.
The 21-year-old Brazil forward made his Barca debut as a late substitute in a 2-2 friendly draw at Polish side Lechia Gdansk on Tuesday and could make his first appearance at the Nou Camp when the La Liga champions play Santos on Friday for the Joan Gamper invitational trophy.
“When I am training it feels like being in a dream,” Neymar, the standout performer for his country in their Confederations Cup triumph in June, told a post-training news conference on Thursday.
“A dream I had when I was a kid and that is coming true now,” he added. “I turn my head and there is Messi. Or Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta or [Carles] Puyol. I feel complete, it is like a dream. I am really, really happy.”
Neymar is likely to occupy a position wide on the left under new coach Gerardo Martino, with Argentine World Player of the Year Messi in his more central role, and Barca fans are eager to see how the gifted pair will perform.
Neymar said he saw no reason to change the way he plays and that he and Messi were fully compatible.
“I have to keep on doing my thing and fulfil this dream,” he said.
“He is wonderful, Messi. He is always happy, he is a great guy. We talk every day.
“Don’t worry, I am sure there is going to be no problem at all. He is my idol. For me, he is the best. I respect him a lot and I hope to be able to help him out.”
Neymar is ambitious for success in Europe and said Barca would be aiming to repeat their historic treble of Champions League, La Liga and King’s Cup titles from 2009.
“There is always pressure, and especially in a club like Barcelona,” he told reporters.
Under pressure
“But I am not worried. We need to stay calm when playing football as well as when training because we are always under pressure. It is a part of football.”
Barca begin the defence of their La Liga title, when they will be chasing a fifth triumph in six seasons, at home to Levante in just under three weeks.
Meanwhile, FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez says he is happy at the arrival of coach Tata Martino after Tito Vilanova’s decision to step down due to his treatment for cancer.
“We lived a sad circumstance with Tito’s relapse and it was the worst news the dressing room could hear, but now we have a new coach and we will try and recover from something that has been tough for the team and adapt,” said Xavi, reports Xinhua.
“Martino is a serious person, he is hard-working and humble and he will bring in tactical variations and new hope. We will adapt to him and he will adapt to Barca,” he commented adding that the new coach was a “winner”.
“He wants to recover the intensity that we lost at the end of last season in playing the ball and also for us to work harder in pressing our rivals,” added Xavi, who explained that the former Newell’s Old Boys and Paraguay coach was “hard-working and adaptable”.
“He is willing to talk and reach agreements. It is an extra motivation, but we still had the hunger to win; this team wants to carry on making history,” he added.
Martino is not the only new arrival at the club, given that Brazilian striker Neymar is the star signing for the season and could even take some headlines off Messi.
“We have made him welcome and he is going to make a difference he can beat players and he is also fast. He is a great player and we have to enjoy having him in the team. He is magnificent and he won’t have problems in adapting as football is the same all over the world. He will make Messi better and Messi will make Neymar better,” said the veteran.
Xavi also praised youngster Sergi Roberto, who has finally got a chance in the first team after Thiago’s decision to join Bayern Munich, but was less willing to discuss historic rivals Real Madrid and their attempts to sign Gareth Bale.
“Madrid have signed well and will fight for titles as they always do,” he said, adding he had not seen Bale’s full game and as such was not able to comment on whether or not he was worth the €100 million (Dh486 million) Madrid are said to have offered to buy him from Tottenham Hotspur.
