FC Barcelona dominated world football news two summers ago when it was announced that the Catalan giants had signed Brazilian phenomenon Neymar. The unthinkable pairing of Neymar and Lionel Messi had finally come and there were lofty expectations.
However, in Neymar’s first season at the Camp Nou, he didn’t quite live up to the hype that had been surrounding him for several years. The Brazilian struggled to find his rhythm in the system in his first season, but what a difference a year can make.
Now in his second year at Barcelona, Neymar looks to be every bit the player that he was hyped to be. So what happened to allow him to realize his potential after a rough first season? Let’s break it down.
To begin with, it is vitally important to remember that Neymar had a steep learning curve to endure with his switch to Europe.
Football is played much differently in Europe than in South America, and learning the Barcelona system can be challenging for any player. Neymar was forced to discover an entire new footballing culture and identity, so it makes sense that he would struggle at first.
Not only was Neymar having to learn a new way of football, however, he also had to realize that he was no longer the undisputed leader of his team.
Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and others had already been the faces of Barcelona for many years when Neymar arrived, and the Brazilian walked into the locker room on his first day as just another player in the squad. For someone who is so used to being a leader and a standout performer, that is an odd thing to undergo.
But the learning curve did not stop there for Neymar. Lastly, as he was learning a new system and how to just be another contributor in the team, he was also playing against some of the toughest opposition he had ever seen.
All three of these issues certainly played into a weak first year with the Camp Nou outfit. Those who expected the Brazilian to just walk into the Barcelona first team and steal the show must have forgotten what a transition carries with it.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2288335-france-should-grant-legend-thierry-henry-a-farewell-appearance
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