Neymar's Greater Influence Key for Barcelona's Prospects in 2014-15 Season

After Neymar's much-touted arrival from Santos at Barcelona last summer, there was enormous pressure on the Brazilian superstar to immediately live up to astronomical expectations.

As it turned out, the Catalan giants failed to win any silverware last season, and the 22-year-old was good but not phenomenal, showing only in fits and starts how impressive he can be.

That was to be expected. He is still very young and was playing his first season in European football for a team with an unfamiliar and rigid structure.

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And he was by no means poor. He scored nine La Liga goals and assisted eight as Barca finished in second place, according to WhoScored.com.

However, his performances at the World Cup for Brazil suggest a player who is now ready to increase his influence at Barcelona, which will be significant as they look to reclaim the La Liga title in 2014-15.

Neymar carried the hosts to the semi-finals, scoring four times before being injured against Colombia in the last eight, per the New York Times' Andrew Das:

Without him in the last four, the Selecao capitulated to the most humiliating defeat in their history as they lost 7-1 to Germany and were then downed 3-0 by the Netherlands in the third-place playoff. Neymar returned last week to captain and score for Brazil in a 1-0 friendly victory over Colombia.

While Brazil's downfall at the World Cup was not exclusively down to Neymar's absence—they had looked poor for much of the tournament—there is no doubt about his influence in the national team, per Squawka:

Now, after proving his undoubted quality, leadership and ability to handle the severest pressure at the summer's tournament, he can have a greater influence for Barcelona.

Unlike Brazil, Luis Enrique's side are stacked with quality, thus Neymar's increased influence is likely to take them to a new level, not simply paper over cracks.

Barca now have a new manager, Enrique, and some new players—in particular Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic—and it feels like the beginning of a new era at the club, per Eurosport's Graham Ruthven:

Neymar will likely play a key role in this new era—along with Suarez, Rakitic and, of course, Lionel Messi—and if he can reach the heights he has with Brazil, Barcelona will reap the benefits.

He should easily reach double figures in both goals and assists in La Liga this season, and his relationship with Messi and Suarez in attack will be key to Barcelona's success.

After a first season at Barcelona and his World Cup success, Neymar will play with more confidence and freedom in the new season, which will make him a joy to watch in 2014-15.