Skip to content

Tito Vilanova’s meaningless Neymar denial

Aug 5, 2012, 6:36 PM EDT

Peru Copa Libertadores

Real Madrid. Barcelona. A bunch of English clubs. This is the established field for the next big thing in world soccer: Brazilian attacker Neymar, currently on display at the London Olympics.

We’re in our second year of speculation as to where the 20-year-old will land. Last winter, the ever-reliable Harry Harris reported that a deal was done with Real Madrid. Barcelona links abound, ignoring the facts that (a) Neymar has a contract that takes him through Brazil 2014, and (b) he’s earning very good money to stay in Brazil. So close to the World Cup being hosted in his home nation, it would be a major upset (on two levels) if the Sao Paulo-born, Sao Paulo-raised, Sao Paulo-living star left the state before one of the country’s signature moments.

(MORE: Putting Neymar’s hot Olympics start in perspective)

Why new Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova would have to deny his club’s interest in Neymar confounds me. I’m sure that Barça are interested in Neymar, on some level. I don’t even have a team, and I’m interested in him. But it should go without saying: It’s a waste of time for media covering a Spanish team to dwell on a Brazil-based player a year-and-a-half, two years away from a potential move.

Here’s what the new Barcelona coach had to say about his club’s hypothetical pursuit of Neymar:

“I’ve never talked about the signing of Neymar for Barcelona,” Vilanova said Sunday, his team coming off a defeat of Paris Saint-Germain. “What’s happened is that you, the journalists, have brought it up.”

Seems pretty cut-and-dry, but I have a secret to share. I’m not supposed to reveal this trick of the trade – I might be kicked out of the Soccer Bloggers Union for this – but there’s a handbook you receive via email after you’ve been writing for six months. It’s only six pages long, five of which deal with how to optimize local government services in the absence of wages and benefits. But the last page is devoted to cultivating transfer rumors – the most important part of soccer journalism.

According to the guidelines, the appropriate headlines to draw from Vilanova’s comments are:

(a) Barcelona coy on Neymar pursuit!

(b) Vilanova kept in dark about Neymar purchase!!

(c) Vilanova erupts as secret Neymar plans revealed!!!

At no point are we to acknowledge that Neymar rumors are a complete waste of time, being pursued for a lack of better ideas, and probably wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for search engines.

But who am I to complain? I just wrote 400 words on the story. Hypocrite.

Latest Posts
  1. Is the Pablo Mastroeni trade another smooth move from that wily Bruce Arena?

    Jun 18, 2013, 8:33 PM EDT

    Mastroeni 2

    The LA Galaxy coach has taken aging players and made them useful parts of the roster before:

  2. First MLS man qualifies for World Cup

    Jun 18, 2013, 5:32 PM EDT

    World Cup list

    Tim Cahill is the first Major League Soccer man to qualify for the World Cup.

  3. ProSoccerTalk’s weekly MLS rankings

    Jun 18, 2013, 3:30 PM EDT

    Houston Dynamo v Philadelphia Union - 1st Leg Getty Images

    Our weekly re-ordering of Major League Soccer teams, following 16 rounds of play:

  4. Can the United States deal with success vs. Honduras?

    Jun 18, 2013, 2:05 PM EDT

    Eddie Johnson, Brad Evans

    Some of the best U.S. success in the past has come when the United States was backed into a corner. Tonight looks much different:

  5. Lineup prediction for U.S.-Honduras qualifier

    Jun 18, 2013, 1:30 PM EDT

    US-Honduras lineup

    There are a few choices to be made ahead of Tuesday’s match in Utah:

  6. About that brilliant atmosphere last week in Seattle: Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah will rock, too

    Jun 18, 2013, 12:30 PM EDT

    U.S. fans

    Unsaid in this narrative is this: most U.S. sites are bright and alive these days.

  7. Stuart Pearce loses job as England’s U-21 manager

    Jun 18, 2013, 11:06 AM EDT

    Pearce

    Stuart Pearce has been relieved of his duties as manager of England’s U-21 squad.

  8. Australia are heading to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil

    Jun 18, 2013, 9:34 AM EDT

    kennedy

    Australia join Brazil and Japan as nations that already have booked their place in next summer’s World Cup.

  9. U.S. notes for tonight’s World Cup qualifier vs. Honduras

    Jun 18, 2013, 9:15 AM EDT

    Rio Tinto Stadium

    Talking about what’s ahead, plus more on tonight’s match at Rio Tinto Stadium outside Salt Lake City:

  10. Scottish football takes another hit as Hearts prepare for administration

    Jun 18, 2013, 7:56 AM EDT

    Hearts

    Hearts have put the entire squad up for sale to raise the reported £500,000 needed to get the club to the start of the season.

  11. Big opportunity ahead as United States faces Honduras in World Cup qualifying action

    Jun 18, 2013, 6:00 AM EDT

    US standings

    The teams meet tonight outside Salt Lake City as the drive for Brazil 2014 moves forward:

  12. Huge cost of World Cups: Did we need a protest like Brazil’s to point out the obvious?

    Jun 18, 2013, 12:10 AM EDT

    Demonstrators yell anti-government slogans during one of the many protests around Brazil's major cities in Belem Reuters

    Brazil has infrastructure concerns. They’ve also spent $3.3 billion on soccer stadia. No surprise, people aren’t happy.

  13. Christian Eriksen’s potential for Borussia Dortmund a particularly cloudy picture

    Jun 17, 2013, 10:43 PM EDT

    Ajax Amsterdam v SC Heerenveen - Eredivisie Getty Images

    The mythology of Ajax, Dutch soccer and one stars’ struggles outside the Dutch league make this potential transfer difficult to evaluate.

  14. Ancelotti may be impatient, but Real Madrid wait should prove inconsequential

    Jun 17, 2013, 8:23 PM EDT

    FBL-EUR-C1-PSG-PRESSER

    It’s only a matter of time before Ancelotti’s holding pattern’s resolved.

  15. Early returns from England’s offseason tell a tale of two Manchesters

    Jun 17, 2013, 7:39 PM EDT

    FC Barcelona v Malaga CF - La Liga Getty Images

    It’s early days, but while City close the gap, Manchester United have yet to act.

  16. This André Villas-Boas to Paris Saint-Germain link makes more sense by the day

    Jun 17, 2013, 6:51 PM EDT

    F1 Grand Prix of Monaco - Race Getty Images

    With a buy-out in his contract, Villas-Boas likely will be given a choice between Paris and London.

  17. Honduran international Maynor Figueroa completes move to Hull City

    Jun 17, 2013, 5:59 PM EDT

    Wigan Athletic's Figueroa challenges Tottenham Hotspur's Defoe during their English Premier League soccer match at The DW Stadium in Wigan Reuters

    Steve Bruce reunites with a player he brought to Wigan Athletic.

  18. It’s time FIFA reconsiders the Confederations Cup bid to the Oceania region

    Jun 17, 2013, 5:19 PM EDT

    FBL-WC2014-CONFED-TAH-NGR Getty Images

    Tahiti are a great story, but nobody wins when small countries get slaughtered by the world’s top teams.

  19. Vacation up soon for U.S. national team men – but not yet!

    Jun 17, 2013, 4:45 PM EDT

    FBL-WC2014-QUALIFIERS-USA-TRAINING

    A big theme is finishing strong so there’s more enjoyment in those vacations ahead:

Top 10 Player Searches
  1. L. James (NBA)
  2. T. Parker (NBA)
  3. Y. Puig (MLB)
  4. D. Bishop (NFL)
  5. C. Andersen (NBA)
  1. D. Green (NBA)
  2. T. Cingrani (MLB)
  3. D. Wade (NBA)
  4. W. Myers (MLB)
  5. W. McGahee (NFL)