Everyone knows that Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are great chums.
On the pitch they combine to devastating effect, cutting defences to ribbons with their dazzling interplay and selfless desire to set each other up. Off the pitch their friendship is cute bordering on cloying, as they document their mutual affection with numerous selfies and Snapchats (Is that the term? Snapchats? Note to self: Ask a young person…)
The South American superstars act more like siblings than teammates, but even brothers are prone to get up each others noses now and again. Taking the piss and ragging each other is what groups of close mates do – it’s symptomatic of a friendship that can bear such tomfoolery (Is tomfoolery still a relevant term? Note to self: Ask the same young person this also…)
Ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League tie with Manchester City on Tuesday night, the talented trio were partaking in light training at the Etihad Stadium to get accustomed to the local conditions and lush Mancunian pitch. Inseparable as ever, Neymar bent down to tie his laces aside his other two-thirds, whilst balancing his boot on a grounded football.
Luis Suarez, clearly bored and in need of some entertainment, decided it would be great larks to kick the ball away and catch his Brazilian teammate off balance. Doing this had the desired effect – Neymar went flying and seemed to injure his ego. Rather than laugh it off, he expressed all the annoyance of a bad-tempered four-year-old.
All the while, Lionel Messi stood there, pretending to be oblivious. His heavily bearded non-reaction and hint of a wry grin suggesting he was in on the joke but didn’t want to get involved in its aftermath. Probably for the best in fairness. We’re sure it’ll be all smiles on Tuesday night if the three amigos shine against City and help collect Barca maximum points.
Neymar and Suárez training at the Etihad tonight. ?? pic.twitter.com/WARrcJwvWA
— Football__Tweet (@Football__Tweet) October 31, 2016
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