The Blues are set to go head-to-head with Real Madrid in a £40million battle for the 19-year-old Brazil striker's signature over the next few weeks. Agent Pini Zahavi has travelled to Brazil on Chelsea's behalf but Madrid have outlined a £5m-a-year deal.
But it was a fine way for Neymar to sign off at his hometown club, with Santos clinching South America's equivalent of the Champions League with a 2-1 win over Uruguayan side Penarol in a bad-tempered final.
It was Santos's third triumph in the Latin American club competition, but the first since Pele was the club's biggest star in the 1960s. 'We have to thank these young guys for giving us this title,' Pele said, with tears in his eyes as the players celebrated around him.
Santos coach Muricy Ramalho is hoping both Neymar and fellow young star Paulo Henrique Ganso choose to stay with Santos for an encounter with Lionel Messi and Barcelona in the Club World Cup at the end of the year, but it will be hard for club and player to resist the huge transfer offers from Europe.
'It will be difficult to play against Barcelona even with these two guys in the team, imagine without them,' he said.
Since emerging as teenagers a couple of years ago, Neymar and Ganso helped the club win the Brazilian Cup in 2009 and back-to-back Sao Paulo state championships in 2010 and '11. TheCopa Libertadores was the major title missing.
'This title puts this generation in the history books,' the 21-year-old Ganso said. 'We are making history with another title, with a groups of young winners, young fighters who honor Santos' jersey.'
Ganso began the move that led to Neymar's goal with a nifty back-heel pass to midfielderArouca, who then found Neymar inside the area. The young hotshot then curled the ball into the net with his right foot.
Neymar will now will travel to Argentinato join the Brazil squad preparing for the upcoming Copa America, wherethe Selecao will be aiming for a third straight victory in the continental championship.
'It's time to go after my third South American title,' said the 19-year-old Neymar, who earlier this year led Brazil to the continental Under 20 title.
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail