Neymar himself has been allowed to develop as a player without moving to Europe too early, which has been the end of many a talented young player from South America. At just 19, the gifted youngster has plenty of time before he makes the inevitable move across continents.
The other beneficiary has been the national team. It’s the nature of Brazil – as in Argentina – that leagues in Europe are not followed to the same extent as the domestic ones. Therefore, players who impress in the local championships are the subjects of media campaigns to get them in the national team.
For Selecao boss Mano Menezes this hardly posed him too many problems in the case of Neymar and team-mate Paulo Henrique Ganso, who are both exceptional young talents. As hosts of World Cup 2014, there is no qualification process for the Samba boys, and Menezes has started blooding these youngsters early so they are ready for the showpiece in less than three years' time. A football-mad nation expects, with a sixth world crown the bare minimum.
So how much is a young Brazilian worth when they are already a regular in their national side and can boast a burgeoning trophy cabinet? In his short career, the teenager has a cabinet full of both domestic and continental honours as well as individual ones, like the 2010 Brazilian Golden Boot.
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