Long-Term Goals for Neymar's Career at Barcelona

When Neymar's protracted transfer to Barcelona finally went through, it's fair to say that a few eyebrows were raised at the size of the fee and how the deal was constructed.

According to Metro, the Brazilian's former club Santos only received £8m in compensation for the player, whilst his father trousered a mammoth £35m of the overall £50m total spend. Agents also shared £7.5m in a deal that had its origins in Sandro Rosell's time at Nike.

Whatever the machinations, the deal was—eventually—concluded and despite never having played at the very top level of European football, Barcelona clearly felt Neymar would give them appropriate attacking options that would be supplementary to that of Lionel Messi, but just as potent.

In Messi, Barca have a player who contributed to 40 percent of their goals tally during the 2012/13 season, per Oliver Brown of the Telegraph. Such over-reliance cannot possibly continue, so Neymar's first task must be to provide a healthy contribution toward the "goals for" column.

The youngster is certainly not averse to finding the net after receiving three successive Golden Boot awards in Brazil, and the goal of the year that he scored in 2011 is a work of art worthy of Messi himself.

As he finds his feet in La Liga, we should start to see the Neymar of Santos vintage, with regular goals a longer term priority.

At Santos the team was built around Neymar, in much the same way as Barca accommodate Messi. Johan Cruyff alluded to this in an interview with Peru-based publication The Trade (h/t Shane Callaghan of Goal.com):

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They are both geniuses, but first we must see how they play with each other and with the rest of the team. Two captains on a ship could bring problems.

If the board makes a decision it must be respected, but I'm just making an observation that it may have been better to wait a few more years before putting them together.

I had hoped to see them together when Messi was a little older and see how it worked. Neymar has many qualities as a player, but at 21 he is not fully developed yet.

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Cruyff's standing in the game dictates that his opinion should be given due attention, however Neymar has already set out to prove that the Dutchman's theory that he wouldn't fit in is wildly inaccurate.

To the delight of many, Neymar has replaced the showboating with an outstanding and sensible work ethic, and the selfish individual attitude for a respectful and courteous demeanour toward the senior members of the squad.

It's also abundantly clear that Neymar has quickly won the trust of his contemporaries as they seek to involve him at every given opportunity, and despite Cruyff's misgivings, his inclusion has not unsettled the equilibrium of the team.

Moreover, the youngster has generally provided a cutting edge on the left side that was previously non-existent. There is an expectation surrounding Neymar each time he receives the ball, and to his credit, he has rarely disappointed.

Given the initial question marks over whether Barca really needed a "marquee" signing at the expense of say a central defender, President Sandro Rosell can begin to feel justified in his relentless pursuit and eventual purchase of the player.

Whilst discussions for Neymar's transfer were still to be concluded, Rosell told Catalonia-based TV3 (via Barcelona's official site):

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We don’t sign players to smack people around, we do it to improve our team even more. Each year we try to improve the team and we believe that Neymar can help us with our style [of play].

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Neymar has slotted into that style of play with ease, and there aren't too many questioning Rosell's wisdom in purchasing the Brazilian now. The test, and indeed the basic requirement, is for Neymar to not only maintain his current level of form, but to improve upon it year on year.

As he is still some way from his peak in footballing terms, an annual improvement should be well within his capabilities, and if he wants to write himself into football folklore it's absolutely essential that he produces the goods.

Potential to deliver is all very well. Delivering that potential takes commitment, hard work, desire and sacrifice, and Neymar would do well to learn the lessons of the last big-name Brazilian to dress in Blaugrana—Ronaldinho.

He had the talent, my god did he have the talent. Yet by the end of his tenure in Catalonia, people spoke more of his love of the high life than of his wonderful contribution to the Barcelona history books.

Therein is perhaps Neymar's biggest challenge. Becoming the world's best whilst working for the world's best brings with it a huge degree of responsibility and code of conduct, and he is still young enough to have his head turned by the adulation.  

Assuming his star continues to shine brightly, then a Ballon d'Or should certainly be within reach, and it must be what Neymar aspires to. The "Golden Ball" is surely the most coveted of all individual awards, and will be the recognition that the Brazilian has indeed joined the elite of world football. 

It takes a certain type of player—nay, person—to succeed, and at 21 can Neymar dedicate himself to getting right to the very top of his profession? He's certainly started his Barca career in the best possible manner but so did Ronnie...

Alongside the individual accolades must surely come the desire to win trophies on a regular basis. La Liga titles, Super Cups, Copa Del Rey's and Champions League's must all be on the agenda. 

Xavi and Andres Iniesta are two players that have been there and done it all throughout their careers, and their own haul of medals showcases this. Upon Neymar's arrival in Catalonia, he told Barcelona's official site: "Both Xavi and Iniesta are two great players who I have always admired. I’m a fan of both of them.”

As the elder statesmen begin to wind down their own careers, Neymar can be as important and as influential as both in Barca's new generation.

The catalyst for another golden age at Camp Nou.