Ronaldo : Neymar will go down in history

Former Barcelona and Real Madrid striker Ronaldo has claimed that Neymar will "go down in history" as one of the best Brazilian players ever.

The 21-year-old has shone in 2013 - after signing for the Catalans from Santos in the early summer, he starred as the Selecao stormed to the Confederations Cup title and has subsequently starred for Gerardo Martino's men this season.

"It is a fact that Neymar will be a great player," Ronaldo told Brazilian television. "He will go down in history as one of the best Brazilian players in the world.

"He's on the right track. He's a charismatic player and is focused on what you have to do to succeed."

The Blaugrana are in the midst of a winter break but they are back in action against second-placed Atletico Madrid, who are level on points with the club.

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Cruyff : Neymar easier to defend than Messi

Barcelona icon Johan Cruyff believes that Neymar is easier to defend than Lionel Messi due to his height, but feels the Brazil international has made an encouraging start to his Camp Nou career.

Neymar, who joined the Blaugrana from Santos this summer, is slightly taller than his Argentine team-mate and Cruyff thinks the 21-year-old's stature makes things slightly harder for him.

"Neymar is easier to defend than Messi because of his height," Cruyff told Ara.

"Leo shields the ball with his body and defenders find it harder to get a grip on him because he is smaller.

"However, Neymar has made a good start to life at Barcelona and his quality should help him link up with Messi and Xavi.

"We will have to wait and see how things pan out."

Neymar has made 11 official appearances for Barcelona so far this term, scoring three goals in the process.

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Martino : Neymar is like Messi

Gerardo Martino saluted Neymar as being just as influential for Barcelona as talisman Lionel Messi following the team's 4-1 triumph over Valladolid.

Neymar is a player that, like Messi, no matter whether he plays left, right or centre, always plays well," Martino enthused to reporters.

"Neymar dominates every facet of the game and keeps striving to improve. In two months, he has integrated into our system. It is very difficult to find such players of his age.

The Argentina international missed the match due to injury but his fellow South American slotted into the No.10's role seamlessly.

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TOP 20 SUMMER TRANSFERS

20 - Isco (Malaga - Real Madrid €30m)

19 - David Villa (Barcelona - Atletico Madrid €5.1m)

18 - Carlos Tevez (Manchester City - Juventus €14m)

17 -   Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich - Fiorentina €15.5m)

16 -  Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid - Arsenal €50m)

15 -  Paulinho (Corinthians - Tottenham €20.6m)

14 - Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid - Monaco €60m)

13 - Juan Quintero (Atletico Nacional - Porto €5m)

12 - Neymar (Santos - Barcelona €57m)

11 - Willian (Anzhi Makhachkala - Chelsea €35.2m)

10 -  Roberto Soldado (Valencia - Tottenham €30.6m)

9 - Jesus Navas (Sevilla - Manchester City €17.6m)

8 - Kevin Strootman (PSV - Roma €17m)

7 - Edinson Cavani (Napoli - Paris Saint-Germain €64m)

6 - Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund - Bayern Munich €37m)

5 - Erik Lamela (Roma - Tottenham €30m)

4 - Eric Abidal (Barcelona - Monaco free transfer)

3 - Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Shakhtar - Dortmund €27.5m)

2 - Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid - Napoli €40.6m)

1 - Gareth Bale (Tottenham - Real Madrid €100m)

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