Neymar is widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted footballers of all time, having enjoyed spells at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain filled with moments of individual brilliance that set him apart from many of his peers.
The Brazil international has been vocal about drawing inspiration from compatriots Ronaldinho and his idol Robinho, as well as former Premier League greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, both of whom were known for their technical quality.
Neymar has also recently revealed he used to enjoy studying footage of a former Arsenal star he described as ‘pure magic’, with the identity of the player coming as something of a surprise, as it was neither Thierry Henry nor any of the club's former Brazilian stars.
Neymar Praises Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Bergkamp in action for Arsenal in the Premier League
Neymar, in a promotional video for Ziggo Sport, revealed that he used to enjoy watching former Arsenal star Dennis Bergkamp play, praising the Dutchman as ‘pure magic’:
“I’m a player who takes risks at every moment. Making mistakes is part of your development, and therefore also part of your routine.
“I loved watching Dennis Bergkamp; he was pure magic.”
Bergkamp, like Neymar, was known for his flair and moments of technical brilliance during his standout career at Ajax, Inter Milan and Arsenal.
The former Dutch international was renowned for his exceptional first touch and elegance, which made him a standout during an era when Premier League football was becoming increasingly fast and physical.
Bergkamp was central to Arsene Wenger’s early success in north London, helping Arsenal win three Premier League titles and three FA Cups.
The Dutchman spent 11 seasons at Arsenal, scoring 120 goals and providing 116 assists in 422 appearances, and ranks third among all Gunners players in Premier League matches played with 315.
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Bergkamp’s brilliance at Arsenal also left a lasting impression on former Rangers striker and manager Ally McCoist, who once praised the Dutchman as ‘the most intelligent footballer ever’.
Speaking to TNT Sports, McCoist singled out Bergkamp’s football brain and gave a glowing assessment of his awareness on the pitch:
“I think Bergkamp might be the most intelligent footballer up there and there’s some brilliant footballers and I’m not saying that the rest of them aren’t intelligent.
“But in terms of football brain, Bergkamp might be one of the best I’ve ever seen, believe it or not.”
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