Any study of performances that analyses the best players in Europe this season includes two top talents among the primary positions: Neymar Junior (Paris Saint-Germain) and Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) are two of the most desired players on the market. 

And Barcelona will try to sign one of the two this summer. Either one of them will guarantee an influx of talent, explosiveness, dribbling and goals. 

The only difference is the age: Neymar is 28 and Sancho has just turned 20. However, their market value, according to Transfermarkt, is very similar: the Englishman is worth around 117 million euros, while the Brazilian slightly more at 128 million. We are talking big numbers, which could change in the current circumstances.

Both joined their current clubs in 2017. In fact, their signings were related. Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona, who signed Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund, who signed Sancho from Manchester City. The costs were different: Neymar 222 million, Sancho 7.84 million.

In contrast to Neymar, who’s more comfortable on the left, Sancho usually plays on the right. He’s a regular for Dortmund, where he stands out for his pace, ability to beat a man and his directness. 

Sancho’s a pure winger. He can unbalance defences, set up goals and beats men for fun. He’s one of those players that can stretch the pitch. But he also knows where the net is. This season, he’s scored 17 goals in 35 games. He’s the team’s top scorer, with more than Reus, Götze and Haaland (who joined in January). Paco Alcácer also scored fewer before joining Villarreal.

On his list to improve is his lack of pausa, a detail which seems to come from his understanding of the game. Sometimes he seems to be in a rush, which is a relatively normal error for a kid of 20. 

Born in London in 2000, to parents with origins in Trinidad and Tobago, Sancho has already been capped 11 times by England, scoring twice. 

Neymar’s much more of a name on the international stage (61 goals in 102 Brazil caps). Any comparison between the two has to underline the eight-year age gap, which is huge in football. However, their performances this season, until coronavirus halted football, present similar numbers. Neymar has scored one more goal than Sancho (18), albeit in fewer games (22). 

Despite those that accuse him of not focusing on football, but on partying and social media, Neymar has proved himself with a great season. A study by CIES and InStat situated him as Europe’s best performer up to March 11, when the pandemic struck the game. 

In total, he had 417 points. Messi is second with 415 and Kylian Mbappe third with 384. Sancho is 11th in the list with 346 points and the youngest on the 50-man list. 

Barça fans know about Neymar’s character: competitive, hedonistic, with a level of arrogance to his game and a big entourage that doesn’t always benefit him. Sancho is only 20 but he has also shown signs of having a very defined personality. 

His signing for Dortmund came days after an agreement with Pep Guardiola to join City’s first team. Sancho wanted him to guarantee minutes in the Premier League, though, while Pep asked for patience. Sancho didn’t have it. He broke the agreement and went to Dortmund. His use of social media, where he’s uploaded videos rapping in a sports car, also speak of a player that has a tendency to enjoy the limelight.

Source:- All Football