Hello all, welcome back, after a LONG time, to the blog. Recently, it came out that Neymar, after taking 300 million across 2 years with Al Hilal, is on his way out of the club after seven games, one goal, and sixty missed through injury, between fitness issues, a hamstring injury, and an ACL tear. Al Hilal’s 390-million euro investment in the Brazilian for THAT production is just the latest chapter in Neymar’s terribly disappointing career – a tale of caution for every young player with expectations to one day take the throne.
After growing up in a humble family in Sao Paulo and Sao Vicente and nearly dying in a car accident at 4 months old, Neymar joined Santos’ academy at 11 and made his debut at 17, quickly making himself known as one of Brazil’s most talented young players. To start, we saw bits and pieces of his talent as he gained a more important role at Santos, but in 2010, at the age of 18, he started to lead Santos and take the spotlight as Brazil’s next big thing, with 17 goals and 9 assists in 31 games in the Brazilian Serie A. This season attracted interest from big Premier League clubs like Chelsea and West Ham, who both submitted bids, and were both rejected as neither exceeded 20 million. The 18-year old was named the third-best in South America, and the comparisons to Pele were already starting, both coming up through Santos and being Brazil’s golden children.
Major interest continued in Neymar going into the 2011 season, where the now 19-year old scored 23 and assisted 10 in 35 matches across all competitions. This year, however, was the year that Neymar-mania really picked up. Neymar’s efforts, being Santos’ best player while still being a teenager, led them to their first Copa Libertadores title since the Pele years. Then, in the Brazilian Serie A, in a 5-4 loss to Flamengo, Neymar scored a solo effort that won him the Puskas award. All of this gave the young player the title of South America’s best in 2011, after coming in third the year earlier.
Neymar started his final full season in Brazil on top of the world – and success only continued. This year, the 20-year old scored 43 and assisted 17 in just 47 matches. While he didn’t win any silverware, Neymar still retained his title as South America’s best, and started eyeing up his next club. In 2013, Neymar looked like he’d be set for another season dominating South America. In 23 matches, he scored 13 and assisted 7, but his time in Brazil would have to come to an end for football’s golden boy to truly shine. With nearly every major club in the world interested, Neymar made his decision.
After the departure of Pep Guardiola in 2012, Barcelona, while still one of the best in the world, were a team in a bit of a transition phase, with a bit of an identity crisis. They were stuck between eras and were off the back of two disappointing Champions League performances in Messi’s prime. While the midfield and defence were still one of the best around, Messi was stuck for help up front. Signings of Zlatan, David Villa, Alexis Sanchez, and La Masia’s Pedro weren’t enough and Messi was stuck having to do it all for Barca up front.
However, when Neymar became an option for the Blaugrana, he seemed perfect for the role of Messi’s understudy. Barca lined up the move for the summer of 2013, and it all went to plan. The move was the headline of the Summer of 2013, for a massive 88 million euros, and was the third most expensive transfer of all time when it happened, behind Real Madrid’s mega moves for Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
Neymar’s first season with Barca, however, didn’t quite go to plan. It took the young Brazilian a while to acclimatize to Spanish football, and with an underwhelming 15 goals and 15 assists in 41 matches, combined with their last-minute La Liga title loss to Atlético Madrid, Copa del Rey final loss to Real Madrid on an iconic Gareth Bale goal, and perhaps most frustratingly, a Champions League Quarter Final loss to Atlético Madrid, there was work to be done in order for Neymar and Barca to truly shine together.
For now though, Neymar had work to do outside of Spain. And back in Brazil. Preparing for a home World Cup, Neymar was now the leader of a Brazil side who had somewhat lost their identity. Gone were the days of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Kaka, and more. While Brazil still had an elite back four of Marcelo, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, and Dani Alves, their midfield and attack left much to be desired. Brazil’s midfield consisted of pre-breakout Fernandinho, Spurs Paulinho, Oscar, Ramires, Luiz Gustavo, Hernanes, and Willian. Their attack was somehow even worse. Hulk, Fred, Bernard, and Jo accompanied Neymar in that position, leaving the 22-year old to lead the team by himself. Neymar took the task of leading Brazil well, scoring twice in a 3-1 opening game victory against Croatia, and then twice again in a 4-1 win against Cameroon, leading Brazil to top of their group. Neymar also played well in the Round of 16 against Chile, a roughly-fought win on penalties. Neymar scored his spot kick, the final one before Gonzalo Jara’s miss that sent Brazil through. Quarterfinals against Colombia, Neymar assisted Thiago Silva’s opener, and saw David Luiz score an incredible free kick to make it two in the second half and it looked like Brazil were all set for a breeze to the semifinals, but Colombia scored in the 80th minute, and Neymar went down in the 88th minute after a full-force knee in the back from Camilo Zuniga. His World Cup was over. Brazil went on to miss him and Thiago Silva, missing the semis due to suspension of yellow cards, putting in a cataclysmic performance in a 1-7 loss to eventual winners Germany, a game which went down in football history.
Neymar would have to recover from injury and a disappointing end to the World Cup, but previously said work would be done in the incredibly busy summer of 2014. In Josep Bartomeu’s first summer with Barca after Sandro Rosell’s resignation in January of that year, he worked with new manager and former Barca star Luis Enrique to give the team an overhaul. Expired Barca legends Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol were let go and both replaced by two signings – Puyol by Thomas Vermaelen and Jeremy Mathieu, and Valdes by Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen. This summer also saw the departure of star midfielder Cesc Fabregas, a controversial decision by the club, replaced by the relatively unknown Ivan Rakitic of Sevilla. However, the best bit of business was done in the attackers department – once again. Alexis Sanchez, after another great season with Barca, was sold to Arsenal for 45 million, and replaced by Luis Suarez, one of the most talked about names in football, for both good and bad reasons. For 81 million, it was a gamble, but one Barca would have to take.
This meant that Neymar would now be a part of perhaps the most iconic attacking trident in football history. MSN; Messi, Suarez, Neymar. Immediately in the 2014/15 season (after Luis Suarez came back from suspension), the trio hit form, and all ended with incredible seasons. Neymar, for one, bagged himself 39 goals and 10 assists in 51 matches. The success then came too, as Barca won themselves La Liga once again, taking back Atleti’s crown, and taking Madrid’s crown in the Copa del Rey and Champions League.
It was here that Neymar was once again on top of the world. 23 years old, and now perceived as the world’s best who wasn’t named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Neymar had it all. The Pele comparisons, part of the world’s best squad featuring himself accompanied by Messi, Suarez, Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Pique, Alves, Alba, Mascherano, and ter Stegen. He was set to be Messi’s heir in the future, after the legend would eventually leave Barca, he had a dynasty set up for him in Catalunya.
However, all would not go as planned.
Stay tuned for Part 2.