This guy.....man this guy.
I have never seen someone own the people that critized him so quickly.
season 1: Neymar wouldn't be able to fit into Barca. Showpony, dives a lot and too individualistic.
End season 1: Neymar becomes a teamplayer and picked up the Barca style of play quick enough.
Beginning season 2: Neymar is good but he isn't wow. Also still an annoying player that dives a lot.
End season 2: CL topscorer and other great statistics. Matured and dives far less frequent. Became important during important games. Has a huge share in Barca's success.
During season 3: Okay Neymar is great but I wonder what happens now that Messi is gone. Does he have it in him to lead Barca? I don't think so. Barca is nothing without Messi.
Currently during season 3: Neymar turns into beast and steps up during Messi's absence. Stopped diving altogether, shows great sportmanship and surpassed Cristiano (imo).
I feel honored to have closely witnessed this miraculous growth. Lot of respect for this guy.
I'll admit that I didn't like Neymar at the time it became known that he would go to Barca and I felt indifferent about the transfer. Not against it, but I wanted to wait and see.
Good player sure, but he annoyed me alot with his antics on the field.
Gradually during the years I have started to feel more and more proud that he is playing for the team. But now the time has come to brag about him openly to other people. lol