Confidential: How Barcelona star Neymar has settled in the Catalan capital

Neymar has not always had things easy at Barcelona. His signing was packed with conflict and the repercussions of that have still not disappeared. And it has not been easy to settle in a new city and not be seen as a threat to Lionel Messi, despite the efforts of Pepe Costa and Dani Alves to make everything run smoothly. 

He arrived when he was very young (21) and most other players would have drowned amid the expectations, but Neymar’s not most players. His character is cheerful, relaxed and jovial. He is able to roll with the punches, on and off the pitch, without changing his attitude. 

Despite being the face of a multinational - some 70 people work taking care of his sponsors and the Inistituto Projeto Neymar - he functions in a normal family way. It’s understood that it was his mother and his sister who chose his house when he signed for Barcelona in 2013, while he was taking part in the Confederations Cup. The family are proud that Neymar did not have to spend one night in a hotel, that from the airport he went straight to his chosen home. 

Fearful of the precedent set by Ronaldinho, the club advised the Brazilian’s representatives that his residence be outside the centre of the city, keeping away the ghosts of the nights out which never ended enjoyed by Brazilians past. 

It’s been a while now, though, since the club realised that one has nothing to do with the other. The two are similarly magical and imaginative on the pitch, but that has nothing to do with their professionalism off it. 

CHANGE OF HOUSE 

As of today, three years later, Neymar has decided to change his house and move to Castelldefels. And he could end up renting one which Ronaldinho used to inhabit. It’s one he has looked at and it’s the one which he likes most. 

Neymar thinks he will be happy there because he’s close to Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and to the beach - something which is important for many Brazilians. In addition, it’s similar to his place in Guaruja, on the Sao Paulo coast. 

The club aren’t worried after learning of his decision to move to Castelldefels. Nor that it’s Ronaldinho’s old place. The club are convinced that Neymar is on a completely different path to the last Brazilian who lit up Camp Nou. Neymar wants a long career, titles with Barça, to be Messi’s heir and to win Ballon d’Ors. All challenges which span over a long career. Moving to Castelldefels, too, is also a demonstration of his intentions. A change of house suggests he’s going to stay in Barcelona for a while - which is significant as he negotiates a new contract. His idea is to continue at the club because he loves the city. He feels comfortable, happy and a long way away from the burden he was under in Brazil. 

In recent months he’s also improved one aspect of his life which he was worried about: Being close to his son, David Lucca. On Thursday he even uploaded a photo of the two having breakfast together at home. 

THE MUM, THE SON AND THE ‘TOISS’

Recently, Carol Dantas, the mother of Neymar’s son, has arrived from Brazil. She’s moved to Barcelona and began a course in physiotherapy at the university. The relationship between Neymar and Carol is good, to the point that she was at his birthday bash a couple of weeks ago. To have his son close to his life breathes energy into the 24-year-old. 

Meanwhile, Eduardo Musa’s recent departure from the company has led to a structural business change to the point that some of the ‘Toiss’ have become ‘employees’ as well as ‘friends’. Joclecio, one of those, lives permanently in Barcelona in the same house as Neymar. He is someone who was released from Santos as a youngster and ‘Ney’ has ‘adopted’ him as a brother. He comes from a very poor family and Neymar has given him everything. He’s not the only one by the Barça player’s side, either. Guillermo Pitta, Gustavo Almeida and Cristian Guedes are other members of the ‘Toiss’ that have also entered the company, even though they don’t live in Barcelona constantly. 

They may be expected, as ‘companions’ of a star, to lead him on a bad path, but they actually try to make his life as easy as possible on the football pitch. Neymar’s neighbours have not had any complaints about the player’s behaviour. He is enjoying his life in Barcelona. He goes out every now and again, visiting restaurants, ordering Japanese foot at home… Nothing strange, everything very normal.