BARCELONA
Scolari: Ronaldo has worked hard to be the best, Messi is pure genius
The Brazilian won the World Cup in 2002 and has amassed 24 titles during a 35-year career. Asked to choose between Real Madrid and Barcelona, he said he would prefer to manage the formerEcuador-Argentina
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In an interview with EFE, Luiz Felipe Scolari says that Neymar will be at Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's level in "in two years time" and is next in line to take their throne.
Scolari says that the Brazilian will win the Ballon d'Or but not next year and that he is waiting in the wings to dethrone the current pace-setters at the top of football's pile.
The endless debate
Scolari says that Ronaldo is the best player in the world but that their characteristics are completely different. He chooses Ronaldo because he "has made himself the best in the world. He has trained for it and has dedicated himself himself to this so he is a different type of player."
The World Cup winning managers says Messi is all about the simplicity. "He is a pure genius. Ronaldo's is a situation that he has imposed, but Messi's is not."
Asked whether he would chose to manage Barcelona or Real Madrid, Scolari says, "I see a diferent style of play at Real Madrid than at Barcelona. Barcelona under Luis Enrique play football with good rhythm. It has changed in the last two years with Suárez, Messi and Neymar. At Real Madrid, it has changed with Zidane in charge, they have a different style of play. I think if I was invited to manage one of those teams, I would pick Real Madrid because they are more similar to my style of play than Barça."
Chinese spending
Scolari defended the "crazy" spending being done by Chinese sides this winter and said, "It is not crazy, it is a matter of procedure by the clubs. They understand that they have to develop football for the public and that is where you get this bombastic contracts from. They are already making adjustments in Chinese football so that in 10 or 15 years, they will be one of the great powers of world football."
The 68-year-old dismissed rumours of a move for Pepe. "The changes made by the federation say we can only play three foreigers. I have four, three Brazilians and one Colombian. I also have two Koreans in my squad. If I can only player three, I have to get rid of three, not buy more."
He went on to say that Pepe was a great player but that at the moment he didn't need anybody.