Davids: Neymar will find it tough at Barca

Former Juventus midfielder Edgar Davids has warned Neymar will find it ‘very difficult’ to adapt to Barcelona’s style of play.

Neymar has joined Barcelona from Santos, sparking a wave of excitement around the world at the prospect of watching the 21-year-old Brazilian forward combine with Lionel Messi at the Catalan club.

Although Davids maintains Neymar has ‘the potential to be one of the best players in the world’, the 40-year-old Dutchman remains convinced the ex-Santos striker will not be used to the speed of Barcelona’s football to begin with.

“Neymar, it will be very difficult for him because Barca play very quickly and he’s used to holding onto the ball,” Davids said following a legends match between Juventus and Real Madrid.

“Barca’s way of playing is very different to how he plays but he has all the potential to be one of the best players in the world.”

Davids also weighed into the debate about who should be the next Real Madrid head coach, claiming there is no doubt Carlo Ancelotti would succeed with the Spanish capital club.

“Ancelotti has managed a lot of big clubs and I think he would do well at Madrid because Juventus, Milan, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are big clubs,” Davids said.

“If he comes here (to Real Madrid) I don’t think there is any doubt he will do well.”

Ancelotti was Davids’ head coach at Juventus from 1999 to 2001 and is considered a top contender to take over from Jose Mourinho, although the Italian’s current club, Paris Saint-Germain, seem unwilling to let him go.

Former Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro has agreed with Davids that Ancelotti ticks all the boxes.

“People know who Carlo Ancelotti is, he’s a man with a lot of experience,” Cannavaro said.

“He won the Champions League with Milan playing beautiful football, he’s won things in England and now … in France.

“I don’t have to tell you anything about him, his CV is good enough for Madrid.”