. @neymarjr sends message of support to Leo Messi

Neymar and Messi during the Champions League game with AC Milan / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
The Brazilian striker has sent a message of support to Leo Messi via the ‘Mundo Leo’ show on Argentina’s DXTV network

Neymar Jr also spoke about Ronaldinho, his arrival at Barça and manager Tata Martino

Neymar Jr is sorry that Leo Messi is side-lined through injury until early 2014. The Brazilian was speaking in an interview with ‘Mundo Leo’ on the Argentine DXTV network, and sent a message of support to his Barça team-mate. “The team is sad because Leo is one of the basic parts of this team. We know that he can change a game in our favour at any moment”, he said. “I hope he recovers and starts playing again as soon as possible”.[[CITA_1]]

“I have always admired FC Barcelona, ever since the days of Ronaldinho, and even more so now that I am playing alongside Messi, Xavi and Iniesta”, he told the cameras. “I had always dreamed of playing with such stars as them, to train with them, to share a dressing room with them … Being there is like being in another world.”

Neymar also spoke about working under manager Tata Martino. “He’s a great coach and a wonderful person” he said. “He asks of me the same that he asks of every other player. How to mark and how to move around. He gives us total freedom.”

I have always admired FC Barcelona, ever since the days of Ronaldinho

Messi to travel to Argentina on Friday for second phase of recovery

Messi, en un entrenament. FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.
He will be joined in mid-December by Dr Ricard Pruna and physio Elvio Paulorroso, who will be overseeing the final stages of his recovery from injury

The first stage of his recovery now complete, Leo Messi will be flying to Argentina on Friday, as scheduled, for the second phase of the process under supervision of the Club Medical Services.

Dr Ricard Pruna and physio Elvio Paulorroso will be travelling to Argentina in mid-December to oversee the final stages of his recuperation. The latest tests on the player have shown that the recovery programme is going to plan.

VIDEO – Check out Adama playing when he was younger

Adama Traoré playing for the U13 team in the 2008/09 season / PHOTO: FCB ARCHIVE
In the space of just three days, Adama has made his debuts both in La Liga and in the Champions League

Adama Traoré, born in l’Hospitalet de Llobregat and of Malian origin, made his first team debut last Saturday. He came on against Granada, and even came close to scoring. Three days later, Tata Martino once revealed his faith in the young player by awarding him his Champions League debut. Adama has impressed all through the ranks at La Masia, and has frequently being playing in higher age groups than he would have normally been placed in. After two seasons in the U18 first team, this is his first year in Eusebio Sacristán’s Barça B squad.

The Youth A team saw off Ajax with a convincing 0-4 win to ensure top spot with a game still to play

The Juvenil A team celebrating a goal / PHOTO: AJAX
The Youth A team saw off Ajax with a convincing 0-4 win to ensure top spot in Group H with a game still to play

Moha, Enguene, Munir and Rolón were on target for Barça who claimed their third away win of the group stage

STATS

Ajax, 0
Juvenil A, 4

Ajax: Mous, Lartey Sanniez (Andeson min 81), Van Bruggen, Mirani, Owusu, El Ghazi (Becker min 75), Riedewald, El Mahdiaoui, Vissers, Kishna and Acolatse (Menig min 66)

Juvenil A: José Aurelio Suárez, Godswill, Riera, Quintillà, Enguene (Ortega min 77), Huertas, Rolón (min 84, Juanma, Godoy (Munir min 68), Ros and Moha

Referee: Sergejus Slyva (LIT)

Goals: Moha (min 2), Enguene (min 26), Munir (min 69) and Rolón (min 83)

Goals from Moha, Enguene, Munir and Rolón helped Barça’s Youth A side clinch top spot with a game to spare in Group H of the UEFA Youth League with a 0-4 win in Amsterdam on Wednesday. After seeing off  Celtic (1-2) and Milan (2-6) on their last two trips, tonight’s win was Vinyals’ third on the road in the group stage, which with the 1-1 draw against the Italians and the 4-1 win over the Dutch at the Camp Nou, gives them 13 out of a possible 15 points.

Control and goals

Moha put Barça one up after just two minutes, winning the ball in midfield and powering forward to fire past the keeper. Ajax were pressing Barça high up the pitch and making it tough for Barça to break out, but after a tough first 15 minutes, the visitors began to control the game and on 26 minutes Enguene put away a great cross from the left by Moha to double the lead.

José Aurelio Suárez denied Ajax an opening goal just before the break with a great stop from a Kishna free kick.

Moha the star

Ajax again came up against the Barça keeper after the break, when he pulled off another brilliant save from Riedewald who shot from close range.

It was Moha who was the real star for Barça though, with two crosses for Munir (min. 69) and Rolón (min 83) providing the goals that sealed a place in the last 16 – to be played at the Mini in February

Jordi Cardoner with the team

The FC Barcelona xice-president Jordi Colomer was at the game to give his support, as were Narcís Julià and Pere Gratacós.