Newcastle signing Yasin Ben El-Mhanni reveals how he taught Barcelona superstar Neymar a trick or two
NEWCASTLE signing Yasin Ben El-Mhanni has revealed how he was drafted in to teach Neymar a trick or two.
The new Toon ace, 20, was signed last month to become part of the Tyneside Rafalution as manager Benitez aims to win instant promotion back to the Premier League.
And Newcastle fans will be thrilled to learn Youtube sensation El-Mhanni - known as the 'non-league Riyad Mahrez' - once acted as a mentor to Barcelona superstar Neymar, 24.
Speaking to the , the London-born trickster said: "I was doing some commercials for a company called Sports on Screen. I travelled to Barcelona to show Neymar how to do a couple of skills past players - just to demonstrate.
"It was just something he couldn't do already. I said: 'this is what you have to do past the players.' It's always easier for someone to show you how to do something than tell you what it is.
"From then, I was just getting phone calls every time I had to double as a skilful player and I would just go and show them how to go past players."
El-Mhanni, who is of Moroccan heritage, said Neymar was "very down to earth".
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He added: "He was a nice guy. I didn't speak to him a lot, just a few conversations. He was very humble and down to earth.
"He picked up the ideas very quickly!"
Magpies supporters will be even more excited to hear who El-Mhanni bases his game on.
El-Mhanni, who honed his skills playing futsal, said: "Playing futsal and being in tight spaces, having to beat players. I think it means that when I'm playing 11-a-side, I see the game a lot better.
"Street football gives you the chance to learn and teach myself things rather than being coached. I was basically learning from YouTube, watching matches and players like Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Robinho and Cristiano Ronaldo. Trying to interpret what they do."
El-Mhanni will begin life at St James' Park in the Under-23s but will hope to break into the first-team.
With skills like these we don't think it will take too long.