Former Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff believes the Catalan club should plan for the possibility of selling Lionel Messi now that they have signed Neymar. Neymar arrived at the Nou Camp on June 3, signing a five-year contract for 57million euros from Santos, but Cruyff believes the 21-year-old Brazilian forward will struggle to work alongside Argentinian Messi in Tito Vilanova's frontline.
Cruyff: "With Neymar signed, I would have planned for the possibility of selling Messi. Some would agree with that, others not.
"You are talking about a team, its players, the things around it... There are too many things at stake. That's why it's so difficult to manage such a top-class squad.
"It's like the free-kicks. Neymar is very good at taking them, and Messi has already shown he is. Who's going to take them?
"Or the fact that Neymar and Barcelona are with Nike while Leo is with Adidas. These are situations that could cause problems.
"It could turn out well or badly. It's a risk. I wouldn't have signed Neymar.
"When you have the chance to be the best player on the pitch in every game you have to be a bit of a dictator, because you are not just concerned about your team, you are concerned about yourself and your prestige.
"Therefore the pressure on Messi is huge because everyone in the stadium wants to see him perform miracles.
"And for him to pull off miracles, things have to work in his favour."
Source: Newcastle United Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
