Ex-Santos president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro alleges that Neymar was the subject of huge interest and a €30m bid from Chelsea in 2010.
This has been reported in his biography, soon to be released through crowdfunding. The Ex Peixe supremo promises to describe the episode that saw Santos fight off Chelsea’s advances for the current Brazilian captain whilst he was still a teenager.
Chelsea have a big scouting presence in Brazil, having taken talents such as Lucas Piazon, Oscar and Kenedy from the country, amongst others. Ribeiro claims that the London club made a €30m bid, which Santos rejected. He also described the fight the São Paulo club undertook to resists Chelsea’s advances. Ribeiro alleges that Chelsea set up a meeting with Neymar, his father (who also acts as his agent) and Chelsea representative Pini Zahavi in New York, where the player was preparing to make his full international debut in a friendly against the USA.
Ribeiro says that Neymar arrived to São Paulo Guarulhos airport, with two cars waiting for him. One provided by suitors Chelsea, and the other by his club Santos. Ribeiro continues that Neymar was accosted by Santos representatives and ordered into the Santos vehicle. The ex Santos chief has also promised to lift the lid on Neymar’s infamous row with then coach Dorival Junior, which cost the manager his job, as well as details on the player’s eventual sale to Barcelona, which is still subject to a stiff investigation from the courts.
