By
Samuel Marsden
(Featured Columnist) on August 2, 2013
David Ramos/Getty Images
Before kickoff in Friday night's Joan Gamper Trophy fixture, all the attention was on Neymar, Barcelona's big offseason signing, coming face-to-face with his former employers in Santos .
How would he fare against his old friends?
And how would he link up with Lionel Messi—the two missed each other by seconds in Poland in midweek—as part of Barca's front three?
Everything was put on hold an hour before kickoff, though, when Gerardo Martino's team sheet revealed that the 21-year-old would start from the bench; Messi, Pedro Rodriguez and Alexis Sanchez, instead, formed the attacking trio.
While Neymar watched on, Barca ran amok. All three of the attackers added their names to the score sheet, and the Brazilian must have been in two minds about coming on and inflicting too much embarrassment on Santos when they found themselves 4-0 down after 30 minutes.
He did emerge at halftime, replacing Pedro, although as the second period loomed, a fan launched himself on the pitch and headed straight for Neymar—hopefully out of love rather than hate, although the latter looked more likely—holding up the start.
Hopefully it won't become a regular occurrence in Catalunya.
Neymar lined up on the left—with Messi central and Alexis on the right—and what will please the Barcelona coaching staff and fans the most was that most of his good work was his simple work.
It wasn't flicks and tricks, which were impressive—although one back heel to his countryman Adriano was pretty tasty—but his array of passing and composure on the ball.
One switch from the left to right, finding Messi, was particularly memorable, while his link-up play with Adriano and Cesc Fabregas was encouraging.
Undoubtedly Neymar's most memorable moment came when Fabregas added his second, Barca's sixth, of the night. Neymar had the ball on the left-hand side of the penalty box and, in a moment bizarrely described by 101greatgoals as "shades of George Best," stood still and showed confidence, timing and the ability to pick a perfect pass. Cesc duly dispatched.
He should have scored, too. Jean Marie Dongou, who had replaced Messi, went on a mesmerizing athletic run, beating two players before teeing up his new colleague; Neymar opted for power over precision though, and his smashed effort rocketed off the bar into space.
A lot has been made about Neymar being a show pony, but his first showing in front of the Camp Nou crowd revealed he is perhaps more ready than expected to slot straight into the tiki-taka system.
His passing has never been shoddy and, possibly due to the often flamboyant nature of his YouTube clips , has perhaps been lost, underrated by the European football fan.
It was far from 45 minutes, which will have him sending letters to his mum, but it was an introduction. The buzz around the stadium after he had set up Fabregas' second was a representation of how excited La Blaugrana's supporters are to have him in Spain.
If those sorts of contributions to goals, and then actual goals, keep coming, the buzz will be justified.