Neymar is a class apart, says Parreira

Aug 27, 2012 10:10:00 AM

The former Brazil boss has stressed that people often tend to get carried away when a promising youngster emerges, but is confident the 20-year-old will deliver

Neymar has what it takes to become a true superstar and follow in the footsteps of Pele, according to former national team coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.

The 20-year-old attacker is seen as one of the biggest talents in the game, and Parreira has little doubt that the exciting starlet will live up to the high expectations.

"In Brazil there are always emerging talents and promising players. In my 40 years of football I must have heard someone say 'he’ll be the new Pele' dozens of times and then they fall short," Parreira stated to the official Fifa website.

"That’s valid for whole generations: you have to prove yourself on the pitch, when it counts. This generation is promising and talented but we’ll only see what they’re really made of come 2014.

"Neymar’s involvement makes this, perhaps, one of the most gifted crops we’ve had in recent years, though. He’s a class apart."

The tricky attacker is continually being linked with a move to Europe, and has reportedly caught the attention of clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Juventus.

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