The 20-year-old forward is widely expected to be Messi’s next main rival, for ‘best footballer in the world,’ when he eventually leaves Santos for one of Europe’s super clubs.
Fellow countrymen, and current Chelsea star Oscar, has been doing his bit to ensure Neymar considers Stamford Bridge as his next footballing home.
Neymar revealed, "Oscar messages me to tell me what a great club Chelsea is and what a great city London is."
However, Chelsea will face fierce competition from Europe’s elite in the bid to win the dazzling forward's coveted signature.
Barcelona’s Dani Alves has reportedly also been doing his sales pitch for the Catalan giants, and talks as if his club has already signed him, “I am looking forward to seeing Neymar and Messi play together. He would fit in very well. Barcelona will arguably have the two best attackers in the world with him."
No doubt Brazilian footballers all across Europe will become ‘salesmen’ as the race to capture Neymar heats up. He can expect to receive text messages from Marcelo in Madrid, Robinho in Milan and Thiago Silva in Paris, as they all attempt to portray the alluring delights of playing for their club.
But for now it seems that Oscar and Alves remain the front runners in that department, "He and Dani are both very good salesmen for their club,” said Neymar.
Neymar most recently helped Santos to beat Universidad de Chile to win their first ever Recopa Sudamericana trophy. During his 95 appearances for Santos he has scored 48 goals and has already netted 13 times for Brazil at senior level.
As well as his obvious football talent, the man of many haircuts and insatiable charisma, is widely predicted to be the most marketable footballer since David Beckham.
It is not anticipated that Neymar will be leaving his homeland until after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The aftermath of which is likely to see a mass exodus of Brazilian superstars heading for the fruits of Europe.
Along with Ganso, Neymar will sit at the top of many club’s wish lists. Breaking the hearts of many he already appears to have it narrowed down to five clubs, "When the time is right I will listen to the right offers that my agent has for me. It is very simple: if Barcelona are interested you listen, if Real Madrid are interested you listen, if Chelsea are interested you listen.
"There are maybe five clubs in the world that you know you must at least listen to."
Chelsea fans will be glad to see they make the list, I wonder who the other two clubs are?
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
Simon Bunn
I possess a swashbuckling attitude towards football writing, aiming to pillage the most exciting and thought provoking topics in the business. Blessed with savvy up to date football knowledge, a dangerous obsession for Aston Villa FC, and a mind of alternative thinking, I welcome all readers aboard.
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