Ronaldinho talks up Barca to Neymar

Santos striker Neymar has Barcelona on his mind, after he revealed Brazil team-mate Ronaldinho has told him only good things about the club.

Ronaldinho enjoyed five seasons at Camp Nou between 2003 and 2008, during which time he established himself as one of the best players in the world.

According to Neymar, the Flamengo attacker still speaks fondly of his time in Catalunya and has told him that he would love it there.

“He’s always been something of a benchmark for me,” the 20-year-old forward said of the former Ballon d’Or winner during an interview with El Mundo Deportivo.

“I have always kept in mind the advice of Ronaldinho and he spoke wonders of Barcelona and the city, which he told me is marvellous.”

Neymar acknowledged, though, that he did not need his international colleague to tell him that Barca ‘are an excellent team, as everyone knows, and are full of stars’.

The striker is tied to Santos until the summer of 2014 but responding to speculation that he could yet leave before then, Neymar admitted that ‘anything can happen’.

Neymar has already made 15 appearances for the Brazil national side, scoring eight goals.