On Monday, FIFA announced the three finalists for the 2015 Ballon d’Or, and the inclusion of Neymar doesn’t come as a surprise for the player’s former coach at Santos, Muricy Ramalho.
The Brazilian will compete with his Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid, with the winner being announced in January. At the invitation of Neymar, Muricy Ramalho, who worked with the striker at Santos between 2011 and 2012, visited Barcelona and praised the Catalan club’s facilities. The coach was in charge when the Santos side, inspired by a 19-year-old Neymar, lifted the 2011 Copa Libertadores, defeating Uruguayan side Peñarol. Muricy was quoted in ESPN Brasil: “It’s no surprise to me, he prepared for this and had the opportunity to to show that he is different, that too without Messi. Today he is the second, not the first. The first is Messi, but today Neymar stands in front of the Portuguese, Ronaldo.”
He added: “It’s a matter of time before Neymar becomes the first. He is preparing for it, has the structure for it, I’ve seen it closely now, and surely he will soon be the first.”
On Monday, FIFA announced the three finalists for the 2015 Ballon d’Or, and the inclusion of Neymar doesn’t come as a surprise for the player’s former coach at Santos, Muricy Ramalho.
The Brazilian will compete with his Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid, with the winner being announced in January. At the invitation of Neymar, Muricy Ramalho, who worked with the striker at Santos between 2011 and 2012, visited Barcelona and praised the Catalan club’s facilities. The coach was in charge when the Santos side, inspired by a 19-year-old Neymar, lifted the 2011 Copa Libertadores, defeating Uruguayan side Peñarol. Muricy was quoted in ESPN Brasil: “It’s no surprise to me, he prepared for this and had the opportunity to to show that he is different, that too without Messi. Today he is the second, not the first. The first is Messi, but today Neymar stands in front of the Portuguese, Ronaldo.”
He added: “It’s a matter of time before Neymar becomes the first. He is preparing for it, has the structure for it, I’ve seen it closely now, and surely he will soon be the first.”
