Santos star Neymar has revealed that former Seleção legend Romário is the reason behind his love of the number 11 shirt and that the former Vasco and Barcelona striker.
Neymar initially wore the number 7 shirt when in the Santos youth team and when he first broke into the senior side, but the return of Robinho in 2010 meant he had to choose a new number. And the wonderkid looked to Romário for inspiration.
He told Santos TV: “I started playing with the 7 and then Lima (former player and scout) asked, “Which shirt do you like?”, And I said, “I like the 11”. He started always giving me the number 11, from the start.
“I always admired Romário, who used to wear the 11, and from there began to like it. I used number 10 sometimes, but (with 11) I have ended up having a special love.”
The 20-year-old also revealed it was his father who helped to hone his technique.
“My father did not have much time, but once when he did have we were on the beach … He taught me to hit the ball and everything. To know where on the foot the ball has to be caught, he gave me a pinch on the foot. Then I learned.”
