In his first press conference as a Brazil player in more than 240 days, striker Neymar was not shy on Monday. The Barcelona star said he believes he is in the top moment of his career, and that he plays for the best national team in the world.
The 25-year-old, who will serve as Brazil’s captain for the first time under manager Tite on Tuesday against Paraguay, also admitted he had to mature after a series of controversies on and off the pitch and promised Brazil would be one of the favourites in the next World Cup in Russia.
“There was never a dependency on Neymar. This is Brazil. If focused, our team is the best,” Neymar told journalists before the CONMEBOL leader’s World Cup qualifying match against seventh-placed Paraguayans on Tuesday.
“We know this, we are humble enough to respect our adversaries, we have to play. Sometimes one part or the other didn’t fit. But coach Tite arrived and made adjustments. We are playing football. The players are not so different — it is the way of playing. Now everyone turns up.”
But Neymar also accepted he had to change to get to the current level of play.
“We only learn when we get hurt or do something wrong. I already argued unnecessarily. I got yellow and red cards, harmed myself, harmed my teammates. But time makes us more mature.
“Nowadays I only think about playing football, I am better in every aspect,” Neymar said.
“Everyone needs time to get their heads straight so things calm down. I had my moment of being a little more silent, but now I am speaking again.”
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