Joan Laporta Compares Neymar to Ronaldinho, Talks Lionel Messi, Barcelona, More

Barcelona superstar Neymar has been described as "Ronaldinho's heir" by former club president Joan Laporta, who reinforced his belief in Lionel Messi as the best footballer ever ahead of Saturday's El Clasico.

All eyes are on Messi to make his return in Saturday's trip to the Bernabeu, but Laporta hinted to Goal's Alberto Pinero and Ben Hayward that Neymar may be the more important figure in the years to come:

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I think that what the club has to do is to come to an agreement with Neymar. Leo is the best player in the history of football and will be the king of football for many more years - the truth is he's the best and us cules are proud to have him. But Neymar is in that group of players destined to be, in the future, heirs to Leo's throne.

He is perhaps Ronaldinho's heir. He has that way of playing that transmits joy and so the club need to do their work and make sure he stays for many more years at Barca.

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Throughout his career, Neymar has earned comparisons to another Brazilian legend, compatriot and fellow Santos alumnus Pele, but Laporta see his style of play as being closer to that of Barca great Ronaldinho.

It's perhaps true that Neymar's style is more akin to that of the tricky Ronaldinho, who was relied upon as a key playmaker during his time at the Camp Nou more so than he was a finisher of goals.

MANU FERNANDEZ/Associated Press

Neymar enjoyed rampant success alongside fellow forwards Luis Suarez and Messi en route to last season's European and domestic treble, and his co-dependent partnership with the former in recent weeks has been a joy to watch.

The 23-year-old has thrived in Messi's absence and boasts a record of 13 goals in 14 games heading into Saturday's derby clash, advancing his profile as a crucial player for the reigning champions of Europe.

Laporta's might be considered a biased opinion given his past links to the Blaugrana, but with Barca three points ahead of Los Merengues heading into El Clasico, he's confident his old club can top their rivals.

The ex-club official went on to say Luis Enrique's side are a superior outfit due to the fact they rely less on individuals and are more banded as a team:

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And I honestly think Barca have the better team. They play more as a unit and Madrid are in that phase where they are adapting to a playing style. Ours is very much integrated. Barca can win at the Bernabeu, even though the team playing at home is always the favourite in a Clasico.

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All of the victories at the Bernabeu, just like Madrid when they beat us, they are games that change a dynamic. And that match changed the dynamic. Barcelona had come from an era in which things hadn't gone well for us and we were in a new project. Winning at the Bernabeu always creates those synergies, that dynamic - and I think it was the start of everything.

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Barcelona's chances of a victory on Saturday will be drastically influenced by whether Messi makes his return to the lineup, be it as part of the starting XI or introduced from the bench.

Regardless, Spanish football writer Sergi Dominguez has identified Neymar as the man to watch owing to his form during the Argentinian's absence:

Barca can stretch their lead at the top of La Liga to six points depending on this weekend's results, an advantage that would put them in great stead in their bid for back-to-back league titles.

If Neymar, Suarez and Messi can once again enjoy world-class form, there's no reason to think Enrique's men aren't capable of such a feat.