That historical fondness for Brazilian talent is a plus for Neymar. Sandro Rosell, the club president, acknowledges La Masia cannot always be so productive. For the first time in five years, Barcelona are coached by someone whose education in the game was not at their own academy. Like Neymar, he is a South American, new to European football. Like Neymar, the Argentinian Gerardo Martino has shown appropriate humility on arrival, and an appreciation of the season’s big issue, the yin and yang of Neymar and Messi. “If they don’t work well together, it will be the coach’s responsibility,” said Martino. He started the pair in the same XI for the first time in La Liga away at Valencia 12 days ago, and felt encouraged. “We were a bit worried because in the Super Cup [against Atlético] they hadn’t shown so much connection. But within 24 hours they had sorted it out themselves.”