Barcelona Manager Refuses To Comment On Neymar’s Future

Reports have claimed that the Brazil forward is among Manchester United’s transfer targets.

“In the end he did not, and I am not sure that would have ever worked as he is not the player to be able to repeatedly sprint up and down the wings”.

Pedro chose to leave the Nou Camp, after he found himself further down the pecking order under Luis Enrique, who preferred the front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. The preseason obliges us to start competitive football very early and that increases the risk of this happening.

“We won the game and that’s what’s important, we had to wait for the [right] moment to create some scoring chances”. We still have a good group of homegrown players.

The Barca coach concerned at a growing casualty list, although it failed to take the gloss of his side’s display, signalling out Sergi Roberto, who filled in at right-back in place of Alves, for particular praise.

“We started the season off on a very high level and avoided getting into a position that allowed Athletic to create risky situations”. ‘Barca are lucky enough to be competing again very quickly and there are lots of ways we can learn from our mistakes.

“This is a contact sport and we weren’t the fortunate ones today, even though I don’t think the injuries are serious”.

They have brought in Turkey playmaker Arda Turan from Atletico Madrid and versatile Spanish fullback Aleix Vidal from Sevilla since winning the treble last term but neither can play until January. They played very well, especially Sergi Roberto, who played a complete game.