Pele’s favourite player and the biggest Brazilian hope in years has spurned interest in joining the big European clubs. All the rumours were that Real had beaten Chelsea to the signing by meeting Santos’s mind boggling demand of €45m.
Today after days of the Spanish tabloids touting a done deal the striker said in no uncertain terms that nothing would separate him from his club with his focus squarely on the Copa Libertadores final against Penarol. The Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro de Oliveira was even more clear.
“The proposal does not exist, and if it came, was sent back.”
Here is some perspective: Arsenal are hoping to get €40m for Cesc Fabregas unless Barca decides to sweeten the deal by throwing Bojan Krkic and Thiago Alcantara.