Sport
“Calm Down, We’re Here to Help You” – Messi Helps Neymar Through Tough Start at Barcelona
Neymar Jr has revealed how Lionel Messi played a key role in helping him adjust to life at Barcelona during his early days at the club.
The Brazilian forward made a name for himself with Santos, where he debuted in 2009 and helped the team win the Copa Libertadores in 2011.
In 2013, Neymar made the high-profile move to Barcelona, joining forces with Messi and Luis Suárez to form one of the most deadly attacking trios in football history—MSN.
“I spent the first six months at Barça with butterflies in my stomach,” Neymar confessed in a conversation with Brazilian football legend Romário. “I couldn’t dribble anyone, couldn’t get past anyone, I felt like I was doing everything wrong.”
He recalled a particularly tough match against Athletic Bilbao, where he was so frustrated with his performance that he locked himself in the washroom during halftime, fighting back tears. But that’s when Messi stepped in.
“Neymar, why are you crying?” Messi asked him. Neymar tried to brush it off, saying he was fine, but Messi, along with Dani Alves, reassured him.
“Calm down, we’re here to help you. We want you to play like you did at Santos, without any pressure. If you need anything, you can count on me.
Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, is expected to be at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos on Saturday, June 28, to watch the President Federation Cup final between Kwara United and Abakaliki FC.
The match presents a scouting opportunity for Chelle as he continues his search for fresh talent ahead of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which is exclusive to players active in their home leagues.
Last month, the Malian coach included 10 home-based players in Nigeria’s squad for the Unity Cup in London, showing his growing interest in the local scene. Nigeria has been drawn into Group D alongside Congo, Sudan, and Equatorial Guinea for the upcoming CHAN, which will take place in August across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has been hospitalized due to a severe bout of gastroenteritis. The club confirmed the news in a statement released on Thursday, noting that the French captain was taken in for medical tests after his condition worsened.
Because of this, Mbappe will be unavailable for Real Madrid’s upcoming FIFA Club World Cup clash against Pachuca on Sunday. He also missed their 1-1 draw with Al Hilal earlier in the week. At 26, the former PSG star will be aiming to bounce back quickly as he looks to return to action at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in the U.S.
Al Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada has shared his thoughts on the recent talk linking Cristiano Ronaldo with a surprising move from Al Nassr. Speaking with Diario AS, Calzada made it clear that such a transfer would be highly unlikely, calling it “a very unusual situation” due to the intense rivalry between the two Saudi clubs.
He compared the relationship between Al Hilal and Al Nassr to that of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, emphasizing that Ronaldo, as captain of Al Nassr, represents their “eternal rival.” “Bringing in a player from your biggest rival isn’t something you see every day,” Calzada said, downplaying the possibility of Ronaldo switching sides. Moreover, Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr is set to run until the end of June.
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