Brazilian teenager Neymar is going nowhere. He turned down a move to Chelsea to stay at Santos, where he signed a five-year deal. Pele, who played at Santos, and new Brazil national team coach Mano Menezes were vocal in arguing that Neymar needed to stay in Brazil.
Chelsea had offered Santos $26 million for Neymar, who made his international debut for Brazil last week against the USA. He’ll make $1.2 million a year at Santos, which included a $58 millionbuyout clause in his contract.
“The final decision always rests with the player,” Neymar said. “My father always will want what is best for me. I talked to himand decided to stay. Money alone does not bring happiness. I’m happy here and I want to continue being so.”
Santos president LuisAlvaro said it was the dawn of a new era. “We’ve built a different possibility,” said Alvaro. “We no longer accept the idea that we’re an underdeveloped nationalways at the mercy of the powerful European clubs.”