Amid speculation that Chelsea were preparing a lucrative offer
for Neymar, the Santos president insisted that the young sensation
would not be going anywhere for the time being.
The president of Santos denied that star forward Neymar would be
leaving the club soon, despite reports linking the new Brazil
sensation with a move to England's Chelsea.
Reports from across the Atlantic suggested that Chelsea owner Roman
Abramovich was won over by the 19 year old's excellent showing in
the Emirates Stadium against Scotland, where he scored twice and
scooped Goal.com's top of the match award.
The Blues were reportedly ready to make a bid worth up to
£30million for the youngster; but Santos president Luis Alvaro
Ribeiro de Oliveira was adamant that Brazil was the best place for
him to be.
"Playing in England is not the same as playing in Vila Belmiro. It
is much worse, because of the climate and the style of football
which he is unaccustomed to. We have demonstrated that, as he has
developed into a player who represents the best of Brazilian
football- being audacious, skillful, effective, attacking- he is
going to become a key figure in the history of Brazilian football,"
the president argued in an interview with ESPN. Ribeiro
also confirmed that the Peixe had no intention of selling their gem
in the next transfer window.
The chief, who rejected a lucrative offer for the teenager from the
Blues last year, was convinced that Neymar could become a superstar
without having to cross the Atlantic and play for a European
giant.
"He is going to gain international recognition, and maybe get
chosen as the best player in the world, playing in Brazil. This is
something that hasn't happened since Pele's day, and he has a
golden chance," Ribeiro predicted.
