Uncertainty tails Neymar as he joins the Catalans

One of the most talented footballer of the modern era, who has elicited comparisons to both Lio Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, after months of speculations has finally decided that his future lies in Catalunya. In a move estimated to be worth 28 million euros, Neymar will now play with some of the best in the world as he begins his surge into European football.

Highly regarded in Brazil, does he have what it takes to don the striped jersey of Barcelona? He did take his time in deciding what would suit him best. But is this the right move for him?

Barcelona – the name itself strikes fear in the opposition. No matter how regimented you are, possession will always be a rarity when playing against Barcelona. Over the years, managers have come and gone, players have been brought in and sold, but the belief, the commitment, the tradition and the style of play remains. Tiki-taka is pretty much the cornerstone of Barcelona. Players who play at Camp Nou know that they don’t have to befriend the ball, they know that the ball is an instrument that is to be passed around in order to achieve the target at hand. Relentless and precise passing, coupled with patience and accuracy, make them rightful winners every time they contest on a football field. Players like Xavi, Iniesta and Messi have for long carried their team on their shoulders. Messi, in particular, has ensured that the goals keep flowing, due to which people have termed Barcelona as a ‘one-man army’. With David Villa not being at his best, as he was during his time with Valencia, Barcelona found the need to hoard another superstar who could reduce the increasing burden on Lionel Messi‘s shoulder and offer another outlet for Xavi and Iniesta to play through.

Coming back to Neymar, this wonderkid skipped past defenders in the more physical Liga do Brasil. Much of Santos’ play was central and all through Neymar. All they had to do was win the ball, feed it to Neymar and wait for him to produce another outrageous skill and breeze past defenders. His play is offensive, and he is ready to take on anyone that lies between him and the goal. Selfish? I’d call him confidenr. He was a star at Santos, a real crowd-puller. His skills, hairstyle and accessories set him apart from the rest. Though aged just 21, he’s an idol for many. But in a team like Barcelona, where all are considered equal, would it affect his confidence?

Previous instances suggest that eccentric and over-confident players have found Camp Nou a hard place to call home. Hleb, Ibrahimovic and Caceres have all captioned their time with the Catalans as their worst decision ever.

‘No man is bigger than the club’  is a policy that has been used by great teams down the line to deal with players who disagreed with the policies of the club. To help Neymar adapt to the passing game would be a challenge for Tito Vilanova. But by doing so, you’re restricting Neymar and not utilizing his abilities to the maximum.

There is also a fear of Barcelona changing their style of play, with Neymar being central to this new plan. This could mean a transition in their playing style, which could take some time to adjust to for their fans and players alike. Though this is less likely to happen, it’s a possibility nonetheless.

According to general consensus, Neymar would excel at a team that is famed for its counter attacking style of play, namely Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.  We cannot be sure of what the future holds for us, we might see Neymar snatch the Ballon d’Or from Lionel Messi, or could see him regret his move to Barcelona.  But the uncertainty remains..