Barcelona forward Neymar has reiterated that he will not change the way he plays ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Juventus.
The Brazilian drew the ire of Athletic Bilbao players in the Copa del Rey final for a perceived act of showboating, with La Blaugrana leading 3-1, but he has made it clear that he will not pack in his flamboyance “just because others don’t like it”.
“Playing this final is a dream that I’ve had since I was a child, and now I’m very close to it,” he told Television Espanola.
“I hope to have great game and that we win [the Champions League].
“[Juve] are dangerous all over the pitch and didn’t get this far by chance.
“Playing with [Lionel] Messi and Luis Suarez is a pleasure and an honour to play alongside two stars of world football like them.
“Messi is Messi. He scored that goal in the Copa del Rey final and still would’ve done in Italy or England.
“[On his controversial play against Athletic], it’s football and how I play.
“Just because others don’t like it doesn’t mean I’m going to change. I’ll be like this forever.”
