Zico believes that Neymar’s difficult season hasn’t been helped by the fact that Barcelona manager Tata Martino is playing him out of position.
The legendary Brazilian has been discussing the upcoming World Cup in an interview with the Guardian and commented on Seleção number ten and Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
Zico commented: “Neymar is in a different situation than Lionel Messi. Messi has Argentina"s team built around him while the Seleção is not as dependent on Neymar.
"Neymar will be instrumental if Brazil want to go far and he has not had any serious injuries."
A lot has been made about the 22-year-olds transfer to Barcelona this season from Santos last summer.
Zico feels Neymar hasn’t don too badly in his first season, considering the adaptation period any young footballers goes through when moving to a different country.
"People say that all the controversy around his transfer has affected him but I see a simple case of Neymar having to adapt to a change of country," Zico said.
"And a move to a club [Barcelona] where the manager insists on playing him out of position."
Neymar will be playing in his favoured role for Brazil and the hopes of a nation will fall on his shoulders.
