IN SPORT.ES
Behind that smile, frivolous appearances on social media and regular returns to Brazil, two of Neymar’s biggest qualities are hidden. First of all, his will to grow into the best player in the world one day. And secondly, his desire to be happy.
Neymar’s already taken steps towards the second one, rejecting bigger offers to stay in Catalonia, like he did in 2013, because “Barça is my home.” You only have to look at his physique to realise that he’s a different player to the one which arrived from Santos, though.
DIVER
Before he was accused of being a diver, a consequence of the fragility of his physique. Now, though, he’s much closer to the physiques of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Both players, who are older than Neymar and therefore more developed physically, have a strength which they have worked on in the gym. Neymar has joined them. The Brazilian was 64.5kg when he joined the club, according to official data, while he’s now 68kg.
That he weighs more is a product of the intense work he’s done in the gym in a bid to put on muscle. The objective is to put on 5kg. It’s a challenge which he’s marked out himself with the two personal trainers he has, Ricardo Rosa from Brazil and the Azulgrana’s Antonio Gomez.
The former lives in Barcelona, in the same house with Neymar, and works with him every day in the gym at the home. The second, signed this season, works with him two times a week at the Ciutat Esportiva. The target, as we said, was to gain 5kg in muscle. To go above that amount would be dangerous and could have negative effects on his speed, something the club don’t want as it’s one of his biggest strengths.
MORE CONSISTENT
Neymar is taking steps to be a more important, more consistent player. Physical improvements are considered key by many, but there’s another argument which hasn’t escaped anyone: mental strength. When the pressure is on Neymar, he doesn’t become daunted. He’s demonstrated it with Brazil in the World Cup, the Copa America and the Olympic Games, and he’s demonstrated it with Barça when Messi’s not been on the pitch.
It occurred last season when the Argentine was injured. During that time, Neymar offered his best version, he was more resolute than ever and led Barça with an extraordinary run of 11 goals in 10 games. With the exception of a loss to Sevilla, Barça won all their games without Messi, including a 4-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu, although Leo did come on as a second half substitute, his first game back.
Now something similar is occurring. Messi is injured and Neymar’s been called to lead the team. So far, the response has been sensational, as in the first game without Messi, he scored two of the five goals.