Brazilian wonderkid Neymar may turn his back on Chelsea and sign for Barcelona.
Neymar, 18, was the star of Brazil's 2-0 win over Scotland at the Emirates Stadium last Sunday. On Monday the Santos striker had dinner in London with superagent Pini Zahhavi who works closely with Chelsea but Neymar insisted: 'The possibility of a move to an English club was not discussed.
'The future belongs to God, but I have a contract with Santos. I am happy here and I want to stay at the club for now.
'But all the players would like to play for Barcelona, me included. It is an issue that we must treat it with care because I have a contract with Santos.'
Last year, Neymar renewed his contract with Santos, becoming one of the highest wage-earners in the Brazilian league with a transfer get-out clause of £36million which is hardly likely to worry Chelsea.
Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro de Oliveira warned Neymar that he would struggle to adapt to English football.
Speaking on Wednesday, De Oliveira said: 'Playing in England is not the same as playing at (Santos' stadium) 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.
'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.
Neymar, 18, was the star of Brazil's 2-0 win over Scotland at the Emirates Stadium last Sunday. On Monday the Santos striker had dinner in London with superagent Pini Zahhavi who works closely with Chelsea but Neymar insisted: 'The possibility of a move to an English club was not discussed.
In demand: Brazil starlet Neymar has attracted interest from across Europe
'But all the players would like to play for Barcelona, me included. It is an issue that we must treat it with care because I have a contract with Santos.'
Last year, Neymar renewed his contract with Santos, becoming one of the highest wage-earners in the Brazilian league with a transfer get-out clause of £36million which is hardly likely to worry Chelsea.
Spot on: Neymar scored in Brazil's comfortable 2-0 win over Scotland at the Emirates on Sunday
Speaking on Wednesday, De Oliveira said: 'Playing in England is not the same as playing at (Santos' stadium) Vila Belmiro. It is much worse, because of the climate and the style of football, which he is unaccustomed to.
Snub: Neymar (right) has been warned against a move to the Premier League by Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro de Oliveira
'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.
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