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Dubai: Football fans are often divided when it comes to Neymar.
Playing for Barcelona in 2014-17 alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the striker is one of the big three to contend with the game’s most skilled and powerful attack.
They accumulated 363 goals, 173 assists and trophies before Neymar was sold when Paris Saint-Germain paid a 222 million euro ($221.3 million) buyout clause.
The 2017 transfer – still a world record – may not have been the success story he and the club envisioned.
While dominating domestic competition, the Qatar-owned French side has yet to lift the Champions League, despite having a string of talents including Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi upon his arrival from Barcelona in 2021, and Neymar’s performance and contributions have been questioned by critics.
For Brazil; if Neymar can’t lead them to World Cup success, does his name deserve to be tied with the greatest player in history?
Although he has scored 75 international goals in 121 appearances – just two shy of the legendary Pele’s record – the 30-year-old has only scored in major competition with the national team at the 2016 Olympics gold medal.
Injury missed his chance in Brazil’s 7-1 home defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup semi-final, and four years later they lost to Belgium in the quarter-finals in Russia.
At the Copa America, Willian replaced the injured Neymar before Selecao won the 2019 tournament, which they lost to Argentina in last year’s final, even though their talisman was in their ranks.
But Willian, who has made 70 caps for the national team, has no doubts about Neymar’s quality or his impact on club or country.
“Neymar is an incredible player who can bring change to Brazil at any time,” he said.
“From the first minute to the last, he was a special player for Brazil.”
However, at next month’s World Cup in Qatar, the pressure will be on Neymar and Brazil.
Under Tite – who briefly played at Al-Ain and Al-Wahda in the UAE – Brazil are among the favourites to win a sixth title, but the first since 2002.
“I think the pressure is normal,” added Fulham midfielder Willian. “Brazil is a big country with a long history, has won the World Cup five times and always wanted to.
“Brazil always has a chance to win the World Cup because Brazil is Brazil with so many good players.
“But at the same time, we know how difficult it is to win the World Cup and there will be other strong national teams there.
“But I hope this is when they win again. . . I now hope Brazil can go to Qatar to win this World Cup.”
Willian will follow their fortunes in England with his surprise return to the Premier League in September.
He won two titles in seven seasons at Chelsea before joining Arsenal on a free transfer in 2020.
But the move to the Emirates proved so unpleasant that he cut it short just a year after signing a three-year deal.
A stint at his childhood club Corinthians followed, but death threats on social media prompted another early exit.
Fulham offered Willian a contract until the end of the season, and the 34-year-old has already impressed as he scored his first goal in a 3-2 win over Victory. The ball moved the club to seventh place.
Manager Marco Silva believes his guile and experience will be invaluable to a team that was promoted last season.
William is enjoying the opportunity to go back in time.
“I just want to play in the Premier League again,” he said. “For me, it’s the best league in the world.
“To play in the Premier League you have to enjoy yourself and I’m doing that – it feels good to be back.
“I enjoy the moment, enjoy the game, but at the same time, I always have to win. I want to play, I want to score goals and play well.
“I think I’m getting younger too. I’m 34, but I feel like 28, like that. I feel good, I’m enjoying the moment. If possible, I’d like to play until I’m 40, I would. I have to take care of myself off the pitch, but I feel good.”
Fulham’s impressive start to the season has sparked talk of their first European appearance since entering the Europa League through Fair Play in 2011.
In the 2009-10 season, they reached the Europa League final, but lost to Atlético de Madrid.
But Willian added: “You know how difficult this league is, so we have to go step by step, game by game, and I think we’re doing that.
“It’s too early to think about Europe, but we have ambitions and, of course, if possible, we want to go.
“This team is a very good team with a lot of players who want to win, they have the ambition to win – I’m proud to play for Fulham now.
“But I’m not playing alone, I need the team, they need me, it’s a mix. I’m learning from them and I’m here to help them and do what I can to help the team win games.”
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