Undecided: Neymar has not made up his mind
yet
Santos heroes Robinho and Pele have been drafted in to
talk Neymar out of a move to Chelsea.
The Brazilian sports minister Orlando Silva has also been asked
to intervene, while new national team boss Mano Menezes and World
Cup winner Mario Zagallo embarrassed the 18-year-old by calling for
Neymar to stay in the country as they sat alongside him at a press
conference.
The immensely talented teen has been unsettled by the public
attention about his future and responded to Menezes's and Zagallo's
comments by admitting: 'I don't know if I will stay or go.
'There is a lot still left to happen. But I won't leave to be a
reserve, it would be better to stay. Of course I'll take into
account the advice of Mano and Zagallo - it may be too early to
leave.' His words will give Santos hope as they go into a meeting
with Neymar's father of the same name, and his agent Wagner Ribeiro
in which improved terms will be offered on a contract that already
runs till 2014.
It is understood that the player is reluctant to pass up the
chance of going to Chelsea, but getting Manchester City's Robinho
and the greatest player of all time to try and persuade him
otherwise could make an impact.
The Barclays Premier League champions had an initial £17million
bid rejected, but are ready to return with a £25m offer. Santos,
who have threatened to report Chelsea to FIFA over their conduct,
insist he won't be sold for less than his near-£30m release
clause.
Zagallo tried to reason that Neymar was not yet ready for the
physical English game, where so few Brazilian players have
prospered.
'I think it is very early for a player of 17, 18, or 19 years to
leave Brazil,' said Zagallo, who won the World Cup as a player in
1958 and '62, and as manager of the great 1970 team. 'The
groundwork has to be done here.
'It is clear that from a financial point of view players always
want to go, but in Neymar's case he would be going to an
environment this isn't good for his body type. He needs to put on
weight, so it's better to leave when he is 21 or 22.'
Drafted in: Santos want Robinho to persuade Neymar
not to sign for the Blues
Menezes, who gave Neymar his Brazil debut in the 2-0 win
against the United States last week, agrees with his
predecessor.
Alongside Neymar at a publicity event in Sao Paulo, the new
Brazil manager said: 'Maybe I more than anyone else wants our
players to stay in Brazil. In this case I am very similar to
Zagallo.
'We still haven't found the formula to make our players stay
here longer.
'Of course I have to respect the interests of Neymar, but,
thinking about Brazilian football, staying here is beneficial.'
Agent Ribeiro, speaking ahead of meeting the Santos management,
said: 'There are times when (Neymar) says he wants to stay to play
the Copa Libertadores (South American championship).
'But in the game in which he missed a penalty (against Vitoria
in the Brazilian Cup final), his father was nearly attacked at the
Vila Belmiro (Santos's home stadium). At the time, he came to me
and said "let's go". He changes his mind and that's why we need to
talk.'
Santos will argue that Neymar shouldn't be swayed by the riches
available at Chelsea, pointing out that Robinho moved from Real
Madrid to Manchester City for a great pay day, only for the
transfer to damage the forward's career.
