Chelsea tracking Santos starlet Neymar as Ancelotti targets the 'new Pele'

03 December 2009 18:25
Samba sensation: Neymar[LNB]Chelsea have been linked with a move for Neymar - a 17-year-old Brazilian striker who has been drawing comparisons to Robinho and even the great Pele. [LNB]FIFA agent Giuliano Bertolucci, who worked on Chelsea's signing of Brazil defender Alex from PSV Eindhoven five years ago, is said to have approached the striker's representative on behalf of the Blues. [LNB]Reports in Brazil say the Barclays Premier League table-toppers would be prepared to offer about £13.5million for the Santos player, a figure which is about half of the player's release clause. [LNB]Neymar has been linked to Arsenal, Manchester United and City, as well as Real Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus and Barcelona. [LNB]His father Neymar da Silva Santos admits that the player's agent Wagner Ribeiro has been approached, but is reluctant to speak until a formal offer is made. [LNB]Ribeiro sealed Robinho's move from Santos to Real Madrid in 2005 and his subsequent £34m British transfer switch to Manchester City in September last year. [LNB]'Wagner has been sounded out, but there is nothing official,' said Neymar Sr. [LNB]'Therefore, we haven't moved any further because Wagner can only go to Santos when there is something official. For now, we're not dealing with any of that. [LNB]'Neymar is very young. He had a good year, but still needs to grow. I don't think that now is the time to leave. He needs to show more for Santos and win titles here. Prepare better.' [LNB]Neymar is already in the Santos first team, scoring nine goals from 12 starts and 18 appearances from the bench in Brazil's Serie A this season. [LNB] He would not be able to register for a team outside Brazil until his 18th birthday in February, but there is already plenty wanting to take him out of South America. [LNB]WATCH NEYMAR IN ACTIONHis contract with Santos runs until 2014, though he is 40 per cent owned by a group of investors who may be keen to cash in. [LNB]Neymar insists he is happy in Brazil and appears to be in the dark about the clamour for his signature. [LNB]'I only know what is being said in the press, nobody has spoken with me about a possible transfer, and for saying the truth, it's not in my mind the idea of leaving Santos,' said Neymar. [LNB]'I haven't been thinking of a move to Europe. I really don't know what is happening and why it is said that many European teams are interested in me because here in Brazil nobody has approached me and even the club hasn't told me anything. [LNB]'Personally the only thing that I am thinking about is in giving my best to Santos and working very hard for next season as I would like to have a better season.'  [LNB] Didier Drogba dismisses talk Chelsea and Manchester United are the only two Premier League title contendersAguero is not for sale! Atletico Madrid stand their ground over Chelsea targetShooting pains: Chelsea are paying the penalty in trophy hunt, warns HilarioKeen admirer Ancelotti ready to rival Arsenal for £18m Inter wonderkid BalotelliCarlo's Chelsea are better than Jose's, claims Blues defender CarvalhoCHELSEA FC

Source: Daily_Mail