\n
\nDUBAI: Opinion is often divided among football followers when it comes to Neymar.<\/p>\n
\nAlongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Barcelona from 2014-17, the forward was part of a triumverate to rival the game\u2019s most skilful and potent attacks.<\/p>\n
\nThey amassed a combined total of 363 goals, 173 assists and trophies aplenty before Neymar was sold when Paris Saint-Germain paid his 222 million euros buyout clause.<\/p>\n
\nThe transfer – and still a world record – in 2017 has perhaps not been the success story he, nor the club envisaged.<\/p>\n
\nWhile dominant in domestic competition, the Qatari-owned French side have yet to lift the Champions League, despite an array of talent that also includes Kylian Mbappe and Messi after his arrival from Barcelona in 2021, and Neymar’s performance and contribution questioned by critics.<\/p>\n
\nAnd for Brazil; does Neymar\u2019s name stand deservedly alongside the all-time greats if he does not lead them to World Cup success?<\/p>\n
\nDespite his 75 international goals – just two shy of the legendary Pele\u2019s record mark – in 121 appearances, the 30-year-old has only won gold at the 2016 Olympics with the national team in major competition.<\/p>\n
\nInjury saw him miss out when Brazil infamously lost the 2014 World Cup semi-final to Germany 7-1 in their home tournament, before they bowed out at the quarter-final stage in Russia four years later with defeat to Belgium.<\/p>\n
\nAt the Copa America, Willian replaced the injured Neymar before the Selecao won the 2019 tournament, and they lost last year\u2019s final to Argentina last year even with their talisman in their ranks.<\/p>\n
\nBut Willian, capped 70 times by his country, has no doubt about Neymar\u2019s quality or\u00a0influence for club or country.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cNeymar is an unbelievable player, he can make the difference for Brazil at any time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFrom the first minute to the last minute, he\u2019s a special player for Brazil.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe pressure, though, will be on Neymar and Brazil at next month\u2019s tournament in Qatar.<\/p>\n
\nLed by Tite – who had brief spells at UAE sides Al Ain and Al Wahda – Brazil are among the favourites to win a sixth title, but a first since 2002.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI think the pressure is normal,\u201d added Fulham midfielder Willian. \u201cBrazil is a huge country, a lot of history, already won the World Cup five times, and just always want to win.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBrazil always has the chance to win the World Cup because Brazil is Brazil, with so many quality players.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBut at the same time we know how difficult it is to win the World Cup and there will be other national teams with quality there as well.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBut I hope this is the time they win it again\u2026and I now expect Brazil to go there to Qatar and win this World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nWillian will be following their fortunes from England, having made a surprise return to the Premier League in September.<\/p>\n
\nHe won two titles during seven seasons with Chelsea before joining Arsenal on a free transfer in 2020.<\/p>\n
\nBut the move to the Emirates Stadium proved an unhappy experience that he cut short after just one year into a three-year contract.<\/p>\n
\nA spell at his boyhood club Corinthians followed, but death threats on social media prompted another early exit.<\/p>\n
\nFulham offered Willian a deal until the end of the season and the 34-year-old has already impressed, scoring his first goal in a 3-2 win at Leeds that took the club up to seventh place.<\/p>\n
\nManager Marco Silva believes his guile and experience will be invaluable to a side that were promoted last season.<\/p>\n
\nAnd Willian is enjoying the chance to roll back the years.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI just wanted to play in the Premier League again,\u201d he said. \u201cFor me, it\u2019s the best league in the world.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cTo play in the Premier League you have to enjoy yourself and I\u2019m doing that – I feel so good to be back.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI enjoy the moment, enjoy the game but, at the same time, always to win. I want to compete, I want to score goals, to play well.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI think I\u2019m getting younger as well. I\u2019m 34, but I feel 28, something like this. I feel good and am enjoying this moment a lot. I want to play until 40 if it\u2019s possible, I wish to. I have to take care of myself outside the pitch, but I feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nFulham\u2019s impressive start to the season has sparked talk of a first appearance in European competition since they reached the Europa League in 2011, via the Fair Play League.<\/p>\n
\nIn the 2009-10 campaign they reached the Europa League final, where they lost to Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\n
\nBut Willian added: \u201cYou know how difficult this league is, so we have to take it step by step, game by game and I think we are doing that.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIt\u2019s too early to think about Europe but we have ambition and, of course, if it is possible, we want to go.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThis team is a very good team with a lot of players that want to win, who have the ambition to win things – and I am proud to play for Fulham at the moment.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBut I\u2019m not playing alone, I need the team, they need me and it\u2019s a mix. I learn from them and I\u2019m here to help them, and to help the team as much as I can to win games.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"DUBAI: Opinion is often divided among football followers when it comes to Neymar. Alongside Lionel Messi…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sport"],"yoast_head":"\n
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