NEYMAR has been desperate to return “home” to Barcelona since last summer.
The Brazilian, 28, has clearly fallen out of love with Paris Saint-Germain and has been looking to force a move back to the Nou Camp.
How Barcelona lined-up for Neymar’s debut, with the Brazilian on the bench
Barca are in the midst of a major overhaul, willing to sell all but three of their players to fund moves for the likes of Neymar, Lautaro Martinez and Miralem Pjanic.
Neymar could well line-up in a very unfamiliar Barcelona XI this summer.
But it wouldn’t be the first slightly strange Barca line-up Neymar was a part of.
We’ve taken a look back at the starting XI for his Barcelona debut in 2013 – where he came off the bench in a 2-2 draw with Polish minnows Lechia Gdansk…
GK – Jose Manuel Pinto
Jose Manuel Pinto went on to become a musician, named Wahin
IN the Victor Valdes era, Pinto was never any more than just the cup goalkeeper – at the club from 2008 and 2014, initially as cover for injured backup stopper Albert Jorquera.
Pinto retired after six years at the club with only 31 LaLiga appearances to his name.
Under the pseudonym Wahin, Pinto formed his own hip hop music label, Wahin Makinaciones, in 2000 and released his own album in 2006.
In 2017 Pinto earned his first Billboard top ten hit, La Habana, featuring Cuban reggaeton artist El Taiger.
RB – Martin Montoya
Martin Montoya is now at Brighton following his time at Barcelona
MONTOYA worked his way through the youth ranks, staying at Barca between 1999 and 2016.
After stints at Inter Milan and Real Betis on loan, Montoya moved to Valencia, spending two years at the club before moving to Brighton – where he plays now.
CB – Sergi Gomez
Sergi Gomez, right, is now at Sevilla following his Barca days
ANOTHER former Barcelona youth product, Gomez failed to play a single LaLiga game before heading to Celta Vigo in 2014.
After four years shining in the first team, Gomez moved to Sevilla, where he still plays now.
CB – Marc Bartra
Marc Bartra is now at Real Betis via Borussia Dortmund
YET another youth product in the starting XI for Neymar’s debut, Bartra fared slightly better, notching nearly 60 LaLiga games in six years in the first team.
Two years at Borussia Dortmund followed his 2016 Nou Camp exit, before he joined Real Betis in 2018. He still plays there now.
LB – Adriano
Adriano was a regular at left-back for Barcelona
A REGULAR in the Barcelona team between 2010 and 2016, Adriano racked up over 100 LaLiga appearances after joining from Sevilla.
After his exit in 2016, Adriano spent three years at Besiktas before heading to Atletico Paranaense in Brazil at the start of this season.
CM – Jonathan Dos Santos
Jonathan dos Santos moved to Villarreal and then LA Galaxy
THE brother of ex-Tottenham flop Giovani, Jonathan spent 12 years working his way through the ranks at Barcelona.
But he only mustered 14 LaLiga appearances across five years in the first team and was sold to Villarreal in 2014.
Three years at the Spanish giants followed, before he joined his brother at Los Angeles Galaxy.
CM – Alex Song
Alex Song struggled to make the grade at Barcelona
PERHAPS best-known for his blunder, believing Carles Puyol was handing him the 2013 LaLiga trophy, when it fact it was meant for Eric Abidal, Song struggled at Barcelona.
In four years at the Nou Camp, following time at Bastia, Arsenal and Charlton, Song was loaned to West Ham twice, where he struggled to cut it, before being sold to Rubin Kazan.
Most-recently, Song was playing for Swiss side Sion’s second team – but was sacked after refusing to take a pay cut amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
CM – Sergi Roberto
Sergi Roberto has become a club icon in the past few years
SCORED on Neymar’s debut, the then-central midfielder is now more a right-back – but comfortable playing almost anywhere for Barcelona.
He’s played 176 times in LaLiga, winning six titles – as well as two Champions League crowns.
Famously scored the last-gasp aggregate winner in the thrilling 6-1 comeback victory over Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
RW – Lionel Messi
Messi scored on Neymar’s debut against Lechia Gdansk
SCORED the second equaliser as Barcelona twice battled back to draw on Neymar’s debut, Messi needs no introduction.
Six Ballons d’Or, ten LaLiga titles, four Champions League and 627 goals in 718 games for Barcelona.
A true legend of the game.
ST – Alexis Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez started up front and was replaced by Neymar
THE man who was taken off the pitch so Neymar could make his debut, Sanchez is well known on these shores.
Sanchez joined Barcelona from Udinese in 2011.
He enjoyed three decent years, mostly off the bench, before joining Arsenal, where – early on, at least – he enjoyed arguably his best stint as a footballer.
Struggled mightily at Man Utd before being loaned to Inter Milan where he has found life equally tough.
He earns £505,000 a week though, so that must take the edge off…
LW – Cristian Tello
Cristian Tello started Neymar’s debut on the left wing
ANOTHER of the bench mob, Tello scared 11 goals in 59 La Liga games across six years at the club.
Moved to Porto and Fiorentina on loan, before securing a permanent switch to Real Betis – where he still plays today – in 2017.
Neymar shows off piano playing skills on lockdown at £7m pad
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
