Neymar picks the one Real Madrid player he wants Barcelona to sign

Neymar gave a typically partisan response when he was asked which Real Madrid player he would bring to Barcelona.

In a wide ranging interview with CNN, the Barcelona forward was asked which player from Barcelona’s arch rivals he would like to play with at the Nou Camp.

Given Ronaldo is fresh off the back of his third Champions League title win, his first European Championship triumph and a fourth Ballon d’Or award win, you would think the Portuguese would be high on Neymar’s wish-list.

But the 24-year-old instead chose his fellow Brazilian international and Real Madrid left-back, Marcelo, as the one player he would bring to the Nou Camp.

“To play with me at Barcelona?,“ said Neymar when asked who he would select.

„I would pick Marcelo. Because he’s my friend.”

When asked to confirm that he would not consider the former Manchester United player, Neymar was unequivocal: “No I’d pick Marcelo.”

Despite insisting he would not want to play alongside Ronaldo at Barcelona, Neymar lavished praise on Los Blancos’ frontline Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo.

“They are star footballers who are also making football history.  Cristiano Ronaldo for having three Ballon d’Ors. Bale is also having a great season. Benzema is a great striker who I think’s a superstar. So It’s a good battle, a healthy battle which we have in the Clásico.”

The Brazilian international revealed how Lionel Messi was quick to help him settle in to life in Spain following his move from Sao Paulo.

“Not long after I arrived, it’s wasn’t a great moment in my career, and he was a person who helped me. He saw that I was sad, with my head down, that things weren’t going right for me.

„He told me to relax, keep going, to be happy and to play the way I know. He’s a person who I admire a lot, for him to come and tell me those things, it was something that really helped me in that moment.”

Barcelona’s success under Luis Enrique is thanks largely to the MSN triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Despite suggestions that the trio are the best frontline in football history, Neymar is keen to play down such accolades.

“I wouldn’t say the best trio. I never like to say that I’m better than anybody else. Our objective is always to win. Every day, every game, and every competition.

„We’re making history and I hope we will continue to do so for many years to come.”

Barcelona are currently sixth in the La Liga table, six points behind league leaders Real Madrid. Luis Enrique’s side were denied all three points in the most recent El Clasico fixture when Sergio Ramos’ late header secured a 1-1 draw for Real Madrid.