Former Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez said Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) star Neymar can reach the level of Lionel Messi if the Brazilian matures.
Speaking to Super Deportivo de Villa Trinidad , the former Barcelona midfield maestro said Neymar has all the talent in the world to become as good as Messi, but he lacks maturity and professional.
“They are different. I see Leo with great footballing maturity. He does everything well. Neymar is a person who has to mature, but he seems like a player with enormous capacity to make a difference.”
Neymar is on the news quite a lot these days and rumour has it that he regrets his move to PSG and wants to return to Barcelona, Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported. Barcelona vice-president Jordi Cardoner has dismissed any possibility of Neymar returning, however.
“We do not consider recovering Neymar,” Jordi told Marca.
Social media, however, is divided over the issue with some Barcelona fans wanting the PSG star to make his comeback, while others evidently campaigning against the move.
Pro-Neymar-to-Barcelona
I would be lying if I said Neymar back to Barcelona doesn’t make me a little excited…
— Rene (@BendItLikeMessi) October 17, 2018
Anti-Neymar-to-Barcelona
I really don't want to see anything about Neymar on my timeline. Traitor!
— mutombo (@MutomboDaPoet) August 25, 2017
Xavi also said he disagreed with former Argentina world cup captain Diego Maradona, whose recent comments over Messi has put him in a bit of a controversy. “A player who goes to the toilet 20 times before the game can not be a leader,” Maradona said about Messi.
However, Xavi begs to differ. “Messi is an incredible leader, he is maybe quiet in the dressing toom but he’s an absolute leader,” the Spanish midfielder said defending his former Barcelona team-mate.
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