Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff believes the signing of
Brazil international Neymar has created a "problem" for the club.
The 22-year-old joined the Spanish champions in the
close-season from Santos, with the financial arrangements surrounding his
transfer causing controversy in recent months.
Sandro Rosell resigned as president over the affair,
although the club denied any wrongdoing after being charged with tax evasion by
the Spanish authorities.
And Cruyff, who played 227 times for Barca between 1973
and 1978, feels the off-field issues relating to the Brazilian's move are
proving troublesome.
"At Barca and at any big team, the coach has to be
the boss. That's why Pep (Guardiola) left, because the board interfered. And
Barca's problem is Neymar," he said in quotes reported by AS.
"He's a terrific player, there can be no argument
about that, but you can't sign a 21-year-old player and pay him a higher wage
than players who have won everything."
By Barca's own standards, their campaign has been
somewhat disappointing, losing four times in the league to sit a point behind
Madrid neighbours Real and Atletico.
However, Lionel Messi's hat-trick helped keep their title
hopes alive with victory in El Clasico on Sunday and Cruyff feels the Argentina
international, rather than Neymar, remains the key figure for Gerardo Martino.
"If you already have the best player in the world, a
21-year-old player (Neymar) can't be the main man," Cruyff added.
"That's impossible in football. At 26 he can, but at
21 it's impossible."
Culled from Fourfourtwo
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