Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor reckons Neymar is one of the best players he has ever come up against.
The 26-year-old was asked for opposition players who stood out against him, while on international duty with Scotland. McGregor has met the £200million Brazilian – who isn’t liked by the Celtic support – four times in the Champions League in recent years but it was his display for PSG in Celtic 7-1 drubbing that sprung to mind.
“There were a few boys in the PSG team,” McGregor told the official Scotland YouTube. “Neymar was incredible the night we played them away from home. He scored two basically identical goals. I think he went past four players and then out it in the bottom corner and then he did it again five minutes later.
“I think when you play at that level you watch these players playing at the real top level and you sometimes thing ‘Wow, how has he done that?’
“It’s good to learn and play against these players and try to develop your own game.”
McGregor hasn’t been able to play against Neymar and co for some time
It must be a frustration for the likes of McGregor that they haven’t been able to face up against the very elite footballers over the past couple of years. Yes we’ve faced Valencia and Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League but the last major team to arrive at Celtic Park were Bayern Munich back in 2017.
McGregor hasn’t been able to test himself against the very elite players for some time now and you wonder if that will weigh on his mind when thinking about his future.
The Scotland international seems happy enough in Glasgow and he’s not the type to complain. Yet he must harbour ambitions of playing against the best – and for now that will only come by moving down south.
That’s why, away from all the money and glamour, it is so important for Celtic to make the Champions League group stage.
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