Amid constant comparisons with his former Barcelona team-mate, the Brazilian's coach insists he still needs to adapt to his new club
Neymar must continue to adapt and improve after his flying start to life at Paris Saint-Germain if he is to become the club's version of Lionel Messi, according to head coach Unai Emery.
The Brazil superstar has scored nine goals across all competitions for the Ligue 1 leaders, as well as chipping in with eight assists, since joining from Barcelona for a world-record €222million in August.
Neymar will face Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday – a fixture that serves as France's answer to the Clasico meeting with Real Madrid he enjoyed in LaLiga.
Emery was asked at a pre-match news conference how long it would take Neymar to become the "Lionel Messi of PSG" and he described the forward as being in a stage of ongoing development, despite his stellar form.
"He needs to be given time to adapt to his team-mates and to our style of play," Emery said. "He needs to handle his opponents' aggression towards him. However, he has individual quality and talent.
"He is Neymar - we will do what we can to help him bring his talent to this team.
"We are working with him with videos to look at what he can improve, how he can position himself better, work the transitions a bit better and stuff like that. He likes footwork. It is a process and it is certain that he will improve.
"The adaptation is not taking one week or six months but longer. Neymar is a great player, he plays like Neymar. Our role is to help him growing up by staying himself."
