Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has defended Neymar's "provocative" style of play and labeled the Barcelona attacker a crowd pleaser.

The Brazil international has drawn the ire of opposition players in the past, notably sparking a brawl in last season's Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao with a piece of skill late in the 3-1 win.

However, Zidane believes fans come to the stadium for players like Neymar, even if he has acknowledged the former Santos man's actions can be frustrating for opponents.

"Is Neymar's style provocative? I cannot say too much about it. It's just the way he plays," the Madrid coach said at a news conference. "Some people like his style, others don't.

"I can understand that his opponents don't like it when he fools about too much on the pitch, but the way he plays certainly brings a lot of spectacle. The fans love players like Neymar."