JULY 8, 2013
Lionel Messi
Barcelona President Sandro Rosell has dismissed any suggestions that new signing Neymar may struggle to play alongside Lionel Messi.
The Brazil starlet, who completed a €57m move to Camp Nou earlier this summer, was awarded the Confederations Cup Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player after helping his side retain the trophy on home soil after a 3-0 win over Spain in the final.
Former Blaugrana coach Johan Cruyff had suggested Messi should be sold given that the two South American stars would clash at Camp Nou, but Rosell has rubbished any such notion, adding that the club did well to land the ex-Santos forward before his stunning displays in June.
“As some say, we were lucky to sign Neymar before the Confederations Cup,” the 49-year-old told Sport.es. “Let’s just say lucky, yes.
“All good people understand these situations. And these (Messi and Neymar) are two good people.”
Meanwhile, Brazil legend Ronaldo has revealed that he would have preferred Neymar to choose Real Madrid over Barcelona.
The 36-year-old spent one year at Camp Nou and five years at the Santiago Bernabeu during his illustrious playing career.
And Ronaldo says he wanted Neymar to sign for Madrid over Barca, as both sides had offers accepted, but still believes that the Brazilian “legend” will still thrive at Tito Vilanova’s side.
“I would have preferred him (Neymar) to sign for Madrid, but it’s not for me to say,” he told reporters in Las Vegas.
“With so many clubs after him it was difficult to pull off. But Barcelona is a great team and we know he’ll do well in Europe. For us Brazilians he is already a legend.”
Neymar was the stand-out performer at the Confederations Cup, including a goal in the final to help Brazil claim the trophy for the third time.
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