While you are getting set for us to release our Soccer Betting Tips for today, I came across an article of interest on the Internet. It is captioned Neymar Breaks Out of Messi's Shadow Ahead of EL Clasico. It was culled this source http://www.supersport.com/football/spain/news/151119/Neymar_breaks_out_of_Messis_shadow
I have reproduced it below for your reading pleasure.
Enjoy.
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Madrid (AFP) - During
Brazilian star Neymar's two-and-a-half year spell at Barcelona, there has been one continuous
soundbite from the softly-spoken 23-year-old: "I'm here to learn from the
best".
The "best"
he consistently cites is teammate and four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi. The
two share a telepathic relationship on the field and, along with Uruguayan Luis Suarez, form
one of the most lethal strike forces world football has ever seen.
"To play beside
the best is very easy," Neymar said during Barca's treble-winning campaign
last season.
Yet, whilst Messi has
been sidelined for the past two months by knee ligament damage, it is Neymar
that has carried the European champions to an unexpected three-point lead in La
Liga heading into Saturday's huge clash away at Real Madrid.
Given his form in
recent months, is there much for Neymar the apprentice to learn from his master
Messi? And, with the latter set to return this weekend, will Neymar be happy to
hand over the reigns once more to the Argentine?
Initial impressions
are that he will. Primarily because Neymar, Messi and Suarez share an equally
strong relationship off the field as they do in tearing opponents to shreds on
it.
Messi, Neymar and
defender Jordi Alba during a training session (AFP Photo/Alberto Pizzoli)
Their social media
pages spill over with mutual admiration, whilst Suarez and Neymar have been
quick to shout down any suggestions their form has meant Messi's absence has
been forgotten.
"People remember
him just as well because he is the best player in the world," said Suarez
after a recent victory over Getafe.
- Reaching a new level
-
Yet, Neymar's
trajectory suggests he will be the one to finally break Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's
eight-year reign as the world's two best players.
In his first season at
Barca, Neymar netted just nine league goals. In 10 games this campaign he
already has 11 to lead Ronaldo and Messi as the league's top scorer.
Neymar's trajectory
suggests he will be the one to finally break Messi and Cristiano
Ronaldo' …
The signs of
improvement were clear to see last season. Neymar struck 39 times in 51 games,
including becoming the first man to net in both legs of the Champions League
quarter and semi-finals, as well as the final.
This season he has
gone to a new level.
In Messi's absence he
has demanded the ball, created and scored goals. Just as impressively, the
petulance that has at times blighted his career to date, most notably in being
sent-off and sent-home early from the Copa America in June, appears to have gone.
When he grew
frustrated with the rough attention and lack of protection being offered from
the referee in Barca's last outing against Villarreal, he
channeled the anger constructively by going on to score twice and set up the
other in a 3-0 win.
His stunning second
provoked Barca boss Luis Enrique to make comparisons with Ronaldinho - another
Brazilian that enthralled the Camp Nou on his way to becoming the world's best.
Neymar heads the ball
during a training session at the Corinthians training centre in Sao Paulo,
Bra …
"Since the start
of the season he has been electric," added Enrique.
"Neymar has
reached a point of maturity. He's in superlative form, nearly at the level of
the two footballers who top them all," said Argentina boss Gerardo
Martino, who was in charge of Neymar during his first season at Barca.
Messi will almost
certainly take home his fifth Ballon d'Or come January as just reward for his
starring role in Barca's second treble in six years.
Yet, for the first
time Neymar is expected to be standing alongside he and Ronaldo on the podium
in what will be the most obvious sign yet of his emergence as the best of the
rest.
Form suggests he will
even be the star that shines brightest at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
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