Barcelona star Neymar revealed how Lionel Messi helped him adapt to life in the Catalan capital after his €57.1 million move to the Camp Nou from Brazilian club Santos in the summer of 2013. The Brazilian had a tough start to his Barcelona career and he lauded the club’s talisman Lionel Messi for helping him settle in the Blaugrana side.
Neymar recalled Messi’s influence during his difficult early days at the club. “I have a nice story about Messi,” Neymar told CNN. “Soon after I arrived, it was not a great moment in my career and he was the one who helped me. He saw that I was sad, with my head down, that things were not going right for me. He told me to keep going, to be happy and to play the way I know. He told me this and he helped me a lot at that moment in time. He is a person who I admire a lot.”
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The Brazilian is currently one of the key figures in Luis Enrique’s side and he along with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez form Barcelona’s deadly attacking trio labelled ‘MSN’ – arguably the best front three in world football. They boast an incredible tally of 253 goals between them in the last two seasons and the 24-year-old divulged that the success of the MSN trident is catalysed by their friendship off the pitch.
Neymar says friendship with Messi and Suarez helps on-field performance
“I think it is about the care, respect, friendship and happiness that we have for being together,” he added.
“Training together every day, helping one another on the pitch, we are making history and I hope it can continue for many more years. We have a great friendship. The only difference is three footballers, three-star footballers in their respective countries, are here together at Barcelona. It is difficult for this to happen, three South Americans. It is something that we have changed,” said the Brazilian attacker.
Madrid attackers are respected
Barcelona’s arch rivals, Real Madrid have their own attacking trio of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, labelled the ‘BBC’, who helped the Los Blancos win their 11th UEFA Champions League crown last season. Neymar opined that Real’s front three is to be feared, but he refused to choose between the BBC and the MSN.
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“They are star footballers who are respected,” Neymar said. “Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or four times and Bale is having a great season. Benzema is a great striker who I think is a superstar. It's a good battle, a healthy battle which we have in the Clásico. I wouldn't say which the best trio was because I don't like to. I never like to say that I'm better than anybody else, but this trio has made history and will continue to do so.”
