In a recent interview on the ‘Podpah’ podcast, Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. shared intriguing insights into his career, including a surprising lesson he imparted to Lionel Messi and a near move to Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola.
Teaching Messi the Art of Penalty Taking
During their tenure at FC Barcelona, Neymar and Messi formed a formidable partnership on the field. Neymar recounted an unexpected moment when Messi sought his advice on penalty-taking techniques:
“I helped Messi take penalties! We were in training, and he asked me, ‘How do you take penalties like that?’ I was like, ‘Are you crazy? You’re Messi. If I can do it, you can too.’ Then I taught him, and he trained.”
This exchange highlights the mutual respect and camaraderie between the two football icons, demonstrating that even the greatest players continually seek to refine their skills.
A Near Transfer to Bayern Munich
Neymar also revealed that before his high-profile transfer to Barcelona in 2013, he was close to joining Bayern Munich, influenced by then-coach Pep Guardiola. He recounted a late-night meeting that almost altered the trajectory of his career:
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“I almost went to Bayern because of Guardiola. I was in Switzerland to receive my Puskas award, in my room. My father called me at 2 am. He said he was going to my room. When I see it, my father and Guardiola are there. I was in my underwear; I put the shorts on quickly, I wasn’t expecting it. There was my father, Guardiola, and the translator. Guardiola told me that he wanted to take me to the club he was going to.”
Guardiola’s persuasive pitch included promises of personal development and success:
“He said he was going to make me the best. He took the laptop, paper, gave me everything. He said that if I didn’t score 60 goals a year, he would quit the club. I asked which club he would sign to; he said he couldn’t talk. I asked ‘please,’ and he said he was going to sign with Bayern. He said he knew it was a cold city; it wasn’t like Barcelona or Madrid, but he promised he would take care of me.”
Ultimately, Neymar chose Barcelona, where he achieved significant success alongside Messi. This anecdote underscores the pivotal moments and decisions that shape a player’s career trajectory.
These revelations offer fans a deeper understanding of Neymar’s professional journey and the influential figures and moments that have shaped his path in football.