Neymar says Cruyff's death a 'great loss'

Brazil's star striker Neymar said on Thursday that Dutch master Johan Cruyff's death is a "great loss for football."

"Those of us who love football know how important he was to football. He was a great athlete. No one is happy when a person like that dies," Neymar told a press conference ahead of Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Uruguay Friday.

The Barcelona star said he had not yet spoken about Cruyff's death with anyone at the club, where the Dutch legend had successful stints as both a player and a manager during his career.

Considered one of the all-time greats, Cruyff died of lung cancer Thursday at age 68.