La Liga president Javier Tebas exclusively revealed he does not believe Neymar is on the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo yet.
Paris Saint-Germain broke the bank for the Brazilian at the start of the season, in what was one of the most controversial transfers in recent history.
Although Tebas admitted La Liga loved having Neymar in Spain, he feels the Brazilian has some way to go before he is considered in the same bracket as Messi and Ronaldo.
"Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are both stars, but I wouldn't say that Neymar is there yet," he told Soccer Laduma journalist Rossella Marrai-Ricco.
"You really have to play for five or six years at the very top to be considered such a star.
"However, we did love having him (Neymar) in La Liga and we didn't have a conflict him with him at all (when he left)."
Soccer Laduma's Rossella Ricco-Marrai is attending this year's El Clasico thanks to La Liga's offices in Johannesburg. Follow her daily dairy in Fan Park and our social channels.
Messi and Ronaldo will battle it out in El Clasico on Saturday afternoon at the Santiago Bernabéu, a match Neymar might be watching from France.
Do you agree with Tebas' comments? Let us know in the comments section below.
