😆
I classify this one hyper-quality.

That's not Neymar - that's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a plaster on his nose.

Either Pele is only every allowed by journalists to appraise modern football through the prism of his own achievements, or he actively drives all interviews in that direction. I can't tell which it is.

But it's lethally tedious reading him blather on about whether the current It Player is equal to his own, or Maradona's greatness.

Anyway, I know from highlights reels that Neymar is a special prospect, but is it wise to build up such a massive, prolonged circus around a guy so unproven outside the Americas? Doubtful. Get him out to a European club and then see how he turns out.

Most of his interviews take place in Brazil and inevitably involve some sort of comparison.

Burnsy, I'd take that Neymar right now. We'd probably hit two birds with one stone, vis-a-vis another winger and another scorer.

It's a shame that he will move to a massive club and if he doesn't deliver from day one, he'll be branded a flop. Would have been better for him to have moved in the summer to a mid-tier european team and done the business for a season or two in my opinion, although obviously it remains to be seen how his career will work out.

Indeed Capi, it's happened to many kids before, we all know how well Ronaldo did after a spell with PSV.
Neymar should join us for a couple of years and then we can sell him on for a nice profit.

I'd actually be fine with that, Big. The key is when you sell him, you bring in other talented players.

Biggus wrote:

Indeed Capi, it's happened to many kids before, we all know how well Ronaldo did after a spell with PSV.
Neymar should join us for a couple of years and then we can sell him on for a nice profit.

regardless of what you want to believe, arsenal under wenger have not been a mid-tier european club.

He should've already moved to Europe.

Anyone else feel this guy may end up being more Robinho than Ronaldo/Ronaldinho?

That can be said of any 18 year old. Where will Wilshere be in 5 years time? There are so few 18 year olds that I can remember seeing and thinking, yeah, that guys a cert. We're talking Fat Ronaldo, Messi territory here.

There are no certs, but if I were to put money on it I'd say that Neymar will be widely considered to be one of the best forwards in the world for a prolonged period at some point in his career.

Oh yeah, absolutely. Guess I'm a bit sceptical that he doesn't really seem interested in going to Europe and testing himself against the best (may change, of course).

He's only 19, playing for his boyhood club (who are also the best team in South America atm) and one of the highest paid footballers in the world. Can see why he's in no rush.

Would be a fantastic statement of intent from Wenger and the board but can't see it happening tbh.

Meatwad wrote:
Biggus wrote:

Indeed Capi, it's happened to many kids before, we all know how well Ronaldo did after a spell with PSV.
Neymar should join us for a couple of years and then we can sell him on for a nice profit.

regardless of what you want to believe, arsenal under wenger have not been a mid-tier european club.

We have been to two European finals in fifteen years under Wenger and lost both, so regardless of what you want to believe we are very much a mid-tier European club.
And the sooner you accept that the boards main ambition is to make money and not win anything and that as Wenger is the perfect mediocrity to achieve that he'll be here for the foreseeable future- The happier you'll be. 😐

So you mean a mid-tier Champions league club then.