Neymar jerseys go on “sale.” Fans choose Thiago’s, Villa’s numbers

Seems FC Barcelona could not wait another day to begin to cash in on the signing of Brazilian striker Neymar (21). 

FC Barcelona Botigas opened today with Neymar jerseys ready to fly off the racks. 

Customers could pick any number to go on the blank jerseys but most went with either the numbers ’7′ or ’11′ according to reports. 

The Santos product sported the number ’11′ at his Brazilian club and does so currently for the Brazilian national team. 

Curiously, he has not yet officially been presented by the club and thus, does not have an official number. 

But if reports in the Spanish media are to be believed, the number popularly given to Neymar proves ominous for another of Barça’s Brazilians, Thiago Alcântara (22), as well as the aging David Villa (31).

The Italian-born Brazilian has worked his way up the youth ranks to carve out a reputation for himself as being indispensable for the future of Barça’s midfield.

 Midfielder Xavi Hernández recently told reporters, 

“[Thiago] is a player not just for the future, but a player for right now.”

So why the blatant disregard by many fans for the sensitivities of the situation?

Thiago, who is rumored to be unhappy with his lack of playing time this season, appeared in 34 of 58 matches this season.

 While contributing in games where the magic tandem of Andrés Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Busquets could not take the field or finish a match, Thiago showed promise, yet inexperience.

 His lack of playing time appears to affect his spontaneous mental lapses on the pitch, something perhaps ex-coach Pep Guardiola would have remedied by now with healthy rotation of his central players.

But with an undisclosed bundle of euros being dropped to bring Neymar to the Camp Nou, one must wonder what the board has in store for quality, but fringe players like Thiago, Villa, and Cristian Tello (21) (And I use the term fringe with great elasticity here). 

Thiago could land his club a boat load of money should they decide to offload him, but if rumors of his €18 million release clause are true, now would be quite an inopportune time to sell should they hope to get anywhere near his true value. 

Villa, on the other hand, appears ready for greener pastures, where the competition on the bench is perhaps not as tough and a central striker position would actually be available.

The loss to Bayern Munich in the second leg showed culés what the world over had already been aware of: Barça has lost its bite. 

Toothless crosses and spells of possession on the outside of the box made as good a case as any of the need for a capable and talented striker who could change games and destabilize rock-solid defenses of top European class. Neymar? Check.

But what of squad depth? It was after all not the same team with Lionel Messi in the fray. 

“An expensive toy without batteries,” quoted The Guardian in its post match analysis, though Gerard Piqúe admitted Die Roten was so on their game even Messi might not have made a difference. 

Coach Tito Vilanova showed faith in Cesc Fàbregas, Pedro Rodríguez, and David Villa from the start but supply lines were cut off as the midfield constantly lost battles all over the park.

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