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| Neymar with Sporting Gijon fan Sergio Gonzalez |
After Barcelona trashed Leganes 5-1 in La Liga, Neymar was heavily criticised by former player Michael Laudrup and some sections of the Madrid media who accused him of showboating because the result had already been achieved.
It’s still a fact that all these accusations are badly placed as Neymar doesn’t do such to deliberately humiliate his teammates because that’s how he plays. Against Sporting Gijon, with star player Lionel Messi absent from the squad, Neymar took up the role as main man and he played really well, scoring twice, but the highlight of the game was not his performance on the pitch but off it after his kind gesture towards a Sporting Gijon fan after the game.
Sergio Gonzalez is a 22-year old Asturian who came to El Molinon to watch and support his native Asturian team Sporting Gijon play against Barça, his second favourite team. According to SPORT, Sergio Gonzalez was accompanied to the game by his sister and was in the disabled section because he had a premature birth by five months that caused a stroke and impediments in his left hand and right foot, although he can walk with the help of a frame.
Despite his team heavily beaten 5-0, Sergio Gonzalez left the stadium with a big smile.. or rather in tears, joyful tears and Neymar was the reason for his happiness.
Gonzalez saw Neymar at halftime from a distance (as he explained to SPORT) and signalled that he would love to get his shirt after the game, he stated that Neymar gave him a nice reply but he expected the Brazilian to forget after the game but to his pleasant surprise, Neymar came directly to him after the game and gave him his shirt whilst also shaking his hands.
“[At Halftime] Neymar looked at the zone where I was, and looked at me. I made a sign with my shirt, the type players do when they swap. He gave me the thumbs up and winked.
“The truth is I was not expecting that he would [come back to meet me after the game]. When the game ended my sister told me that we would go and I said that I wouldn’t go until I saw where Neymar was going.
“Neymar came to give me his shirt, his gesture thrilled me. What he said? He shook my hand and winked.
“He’s my favourite Barça player along with Luis Suarez and Messi.”
This was what Sergio Gonzalez told SPORT about Neymar’s gesture and it’s very beautiful and heartwarming. Gonzalez and his family are very happy about it and he couldn’t stop expressing his joy on Sunday saying: “I still don’t believe it. I’ll put it (the shirt) in a frame, so it can be seen well. I want to thank Neymar through you (SPORT). Ney, many thanks for the shirt, it’s something I will never forget!”
It was a beautiful and wonderful gesture by Neymar, he’s made an entire family happy and not just them, his fans will also be about for his kind heart. Kudos to Ney!
what a life…. a great player with a great heart.. just greatness….