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How Barcelona’s Neymar Can Improve in 2014 as Brazil’s World Cup Destiny Looms
Published: December 30, 2013
The 21-year-old had just completed his highly publicised transfer to Catalan giants Barcelona, and the pressure was on to see whether he could live up to the price tag and massive reputation he carried back home in Brazil.
Multi-million pound transfers of exotic Brazilian stars don't always work out—think Denilson to Real Betis in 1998—but the furore surrounding Neymar's exit from hometown club Santos piled extra pressure on a player former Santos and Brazil great Pele had claimed could be better than Lionel Messi.
Neymar's first half-season in Spain has been largely encouraging. In La Liga, he has six goals in 14 games, including the winner in a derby against Real Madrid.
And earlier this month, he scored his first hat trick in a Barcelona shirt during the 6-1 drubbing of Scottish club Glasgow Celtic. He was the first player to accomplish the feat in the Copa Libertadores and the UEFA Champions League after netting three against Internacional for Santos back in March 2012.
On the international stage, he has become the undisputed leader of a new-look Selecao side. Neymar has thrived, excelling under the burden of expectation hurled onto his slim shoulders, almost single-handedly giving the team a sense of identity that seemed to have been mislaid under predecessors Dunga and Mano Menezes.
The starlet scored four goals during the Confederations Cup, including the second against Spain in the final which effectively killed the game.
Having led the line at Santos and now having taken on the mantle for the national side, it would be encouraging to see him be handed more responsibility at Barcelon...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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