The Warm-Up: Neymar admits he was wrong... or something close

Kick in the spine. Stomp on the foot. You may think I overreact, and sometimes I do. But for real? I suffer on the pitch. But you have no idea what I go through outside of it. When I leave without talking to the press it’s not because I only like winning but because I still don’t know how to disappoint you. When I act like a brat, it isn’t because I’m a spoiled child but because I still haven’t learned to deal with my frustrations.There’s still a boy inside of me. Sometimes it dazzles the world. Other times, it pisses every one off. And my fight is to keep this boy alive. But inside of me, not inside the field.”

You may think I’ve fallen too much. But the reality is I did not fall, I crumbled. And that hurts more than anyone stepping on your post-op ankle.”

I took time to accept your criticism. I took time to look at myself in the mirror and become a new man. But now I’m here, with my heart wide open. I fell. But only those who fall, can get up. You can keep throwing rocks at me. Or you can throw your rocks away and help me get up. Because when I do get up, buddy, the whole country gets up with me.”

I think it was mixed. If I look back, I think I will be disappointed in my performances but I think for my first year, if you look at the whole, I didn’t do too bad. I scored goals, I helped the team, I played a lot and I felt like an important player. But I also know I can take my game to the next level and there’s a lot more for me to give. I already feel a million times better this season. I understand what the coach is saying and what’s required. It took a lot of energy last season: the language, settling in and the style of play.