Neymar acknowledges that he finds it difficult to replicate his Santos success with the Brazilian national team.
Neymar thrived with the elite Brazilian club to become one of the world’s most talked-about players, earning a multi-million euro transfer to Barcelona. But with Brazil, he hasn’t lived up to expectations so far. He said on Thursday that he isn’t bothered by the criticism over his lackluster performances with the national team, and expects to be improving the more he plays for Brazil.
The 21-year-old striker said that it’s natural that in the national team he hasn’t been able to play as well as he used to for Santos. “It’s obvious that in the Selecao I can’t be the same type of player that I was at Santos,” Neymar said. “I’m playing the same way as I always play, I didn’t change that at all. But’s it’s more difficult to play in the national team than it was with Santos. I had more space there, that doesn’t happen against other national teams.” He also said that with Brazil he has to defend a little more than he had to while playing with Santos. “Each player has his role in the national team. We have a coach, and I have to do what he needs me to do. Sometimes I have to mark, I can’t only worry about attacking.”
“With time it will become easier because the other players will get to know me better and I will know them better,” he said.