Brazil legend Pele believes compatriot Neymar must remove diving from his game and find the back of the net more often to become a true great.
Neymar has been repeatedly criticised for his theatrical tendencies on the pitch which, according to Pele, is stunting his potential to become one of the all-time icons of the game.
Does Neymar go down too easily? Five things to know…
- Neymar is considered by many as one of contemporary football’s finest players but has been condemned for his questionable antics.
- During the World Cup, Neymar rose to prominence for his consistent diving, reportedly spending 14 minutes on the floor during the tournament.
- After the World Cup, Neymar accepted criticism of his diving and said he was “evaluating” himself as a result.
- Lothar Matthaus also questioned Neymar’s propensity to go down: “Neymar doesn’t need to act. He’s an excellent player and he has everything a high-level player needs.”
- Only five players average a higher foul per game ratio than Neymar (3.2) across Europe’s top five leagues this season.
Neymar has drawn widespread comparisons with his fellow Santos graduate Pele, but the three-time World Cup winner believes Brazil’s current talisman must eradicate his play-acting demeanour and start focusing on his game.
“I always said that Neymar will become a great player,” the veteran explained in an interview with Canal+, as quoted by Goal.
“But what has happened in recent years? He began to want to appear in another way, not by scoring goals but by making gestures, simulating fouls, complicating the referees’ lives. That’s why his image became negative.
“We have talked about it several times together, despite everything he remains one of the best players in the world.
“A father does not criticise, a father educates his son. When I say to you that he is our child, it’s because he is considered a child of Santos.
“People think that I ‘twist his ear’ too often but I do it for his own good, I wish the best for him, for Brazil, I will do everything to help him.”
Pele: ‘PSG will go to the Champions League final’
Pele further went on to assess Neymar’s current club PSG and their hopes of clinching continental silverware this campaign.
Neymar has netted 11 goals in 12 Ligue 1 matches as the Parisians sit comfortably atop the French top-flight, some 10 points ahead of Lille who currently occupy second.
The 26-year-old has also netted five goals in six Champions League matches, but Pele believes it is not Neymar who has the potential to go on and become the “new Pele”, but rather World Cup winner and teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe.
He added: “I already complimented Mbappe last year, saying he was a great player. He won the World Cup at 19, I was only 17 years old when I won it,” the Brazilian added.
“I said to him that he could equal me, I think he can become the new Pele. A lot of people think I said that as a joke, but no, it’s not a joke!”
PSG were drawn against Manchester United in the Round of 16 for the Champions League and Pele believes the club can go all the way and reach the final.
He continued: “PSG are a great team, I hope they will play great football and they will go to the Champions League final. Then, only God knows if they’ll win it or not.”
Thomas Tuchel’s men next face US Orleans in the Coupe de la Ligue on Tuesday.
The post Neymar needs fewer dives to become a great player – Pele appeared first on Squawka News.
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