Barcelona right-back Nelson Semedo has insisted these are the “things that happen” when questioned about his scrap with departing superstar Neymar on the club’s previous United States tour.
Semedo, 24, had just joined from Benfica when he got involved in one of the final episodes of the Brazil forward’s Camp Nou-career in July 2017 prior to his world-record €222 million exit to Paris Saint-Germain. The pair got into a heated argument during training in Miami and had to be pulled apart by team-mates, before Neymar stormed off.
“We train everyday with a lot of enthusiasm. It happens in all teams.”
This pre-season has seen two other Brazilians make their mark with the La Liga champions.
Signings Arthur and Malcolm have already got on the score sheet for their new employers, the former in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham and the latter during a 4-2 defeat to Roma.
Semedo has been impressed with what he has seen so far.
The Barça full-back @_nelsonsemedo_ offered his first musings of the pre-season.https://t.co/ggS1E7MEXh
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 2, 2018
He said: “They are fine. They have arrived scoring goals.
“I try to help them in any way I can with my language, which is Portuguese. We must help them in their adaptation.
“They improve day after day and they are assimilating into the concepts of the trainer [Ernesto Valverde].”
Semedo made 36 appearances for Barca last term.
