Football transfer news

Speaking before Santos accepted two bids from Barcelona and Real Madrid, the Blues star reveals his advice to the starlet and gave his opinion on Jose Mourinho

Chelsea star David Luiz believes outgoing Santos star Neymar will become a much better player once he chooses to move to Europe.

Speaking before news broke that the Sao Paulo club have accepted bids believed to be from Barcelona and Real Madrid, the defender outlined how a shift from South America will help the 21-year-old blossom.

“Neymar is a great player,” Luiz told Goal. “Of course I’ve talked to him about European football and I said to him: ‘You need to do things you have inside your heart.’

“If he is happy to stay in Brazil, stay in Brazil but, if he wants to move, he needs to move because Europe can take a lot of potential, you can learn many different things about tactics and you improve your game.”

With Jose Mourinho set to seal a return to the Blues’ hotseat following his departure from Real Madrid, Luiz is excited about working with the Portuguese.

“If he comes back for Chelsea, I think he is a great coach,” he enthused. “He has a lot of credibility in the world because he always did a great job. So of course everyone wants to have an opportunity to work with him.”

Asked if he had spoken to longer-serving team-mates about what Mourinho’s return would mean, the Brazilian replied: “They don’t need to talk to me. I know about football.

“I know about Jose Mourinho and I watch television. I know him from Portugal, I know many things about him, so I know he is a great coach.”

Luiz impressed Chelsea supporters in 2012-13 with his increasingly frequent contributions in a midfield role rather than centre-back and he is enthusiastic about his development, though he has no particular preference over where he plays.

“It was amazing for me because I learned many things, new things, that can help me for the future to improve my game and to be a better player,” he remarked of his new position. “That is why I work hard every day, to improve, to help the team. It was a great season for me and for the team.

“I love football. It doesn’t matter if I need to play in midfield or centre-back or striker or whatever; I want to help my team. I’m happy with the ball, I’m happy because I have the best job in the world.”

The Blues’ midfielder believes the skipper will remain at the club, despite the defender’s fitness having come into question following limited appearances under Rafa Benitez

Frank Lampard has backed John Terry to remain at Chelsea for the foreseeable future, despite the player’s fitness being questioned ahead of entering the final year of his contract.

Lampard himself only recently signed a one-year contract extension to remain at Stamford Bridge, where he helped the team win a Champions League, four FA Cups and three Premier League titles.

Lampard told The Sun: “I know JT will want to stay, he’s said he’d love to stay at Chelsea. He feels the same as me.

“Why play anywhere else when you love the club you’re at? JT’s the captain of the club and does a brilliant job. At the start of next season, I think that’s when the club will take a view on it. I know what my view would be.”

The 35-year-old also laughed off reports which suggest that the players have influence over the firing of managers.

“One thing that has helped us remain successful over such a long period is a strong core, strong spine,” he said. “I mean that in terms of players – their ability, personality and the leaders.

“You need people like that in the dressing room. But the idea of the dressing room being too strong? Certainly not.

“I’ve never heard of any players here being able to ask our owner to sack a manager or even discuss anything to do with the structure of the club. If you wanted to take that chance you would probably get sacked yourself.”

The Poland striker prefers team glory to individual adulation and is refusing to discuss his future beyond the end of the season until after Saturday’s Champions League final

Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski has said that Cristiano Ronaldo can keep this season’s Champions League golden boot as his sole focus is to get his hands on the trophy with a victory on Saturday.

The Poland international, who has been linked with a move to BVB’s opponents at Wembley Bayern Munich this summer, is on 10 goals for the current campaign and a hat-trick would see him move above the Real Madrid forward, who is on 12.

“I know that, but to lift the Champions League I do not care who scores the goals,” he told Tuttosport. “I’ve scored 10 in this tournament, two fewer than Ronaldo – I’ll willingly let him have the top scorer [to lift the trophy instead].”

Lewandowski’s performances in the past couple of seasons have caught the attention of a host of Europe’s top clubs and he is believed to be manoeuvring for a departure from Signal Iduna Park, though he declined to discuss a transfer with the cup final around the corner.

“The Champions League is a trophy too important, I’ll sort out the rest of my career after it,” he added. “Now I only have the final in mind.

“For me, the transfer is not an issue: I do not know where I will play next season, I hear talk of Bayern and Real Madrid, but I swear I am concentrating on Borussia, with whom I still have a contract, and the final at Wembley.

“For the future we must wait a little longer – at the end of the season everything will be clear.”

Lewandowski is expected to lead Jurgen Klopp’s line at Wembley against the Bavarians, with kick-off at 20:45CET.

The striker says that the Ligue 1 champions would welcome the Manchester United forward to the team, believing that the Englishman would add further quality to the side

Paris-Saint Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi says that he would welcome Wayne Rooney to the club, following the striker’s transfer request being refused by Manchester United.

The England star is “hell bent” on leaving Old Trafford as he is unwilling to work with former Everton boss David Moyes following the Scot’s appointment as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor, and Lavezzi feels he would make an invaluable addition to the Ligue 1 champions.

“[Rooney] is a very good player and, if he comes to Paris, it will do much good to the team,” Lavezzi told Le Parisien.

The Argentine also revealed that he has talked with compatriot and Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria, who has been linked with a move to PSG with coach Carlo Ancelotti set to go in the other direction.

“Yes, I spoke with Di Maria because he is a friend,” Lavezzi added, “but these are things that remain between us and I do not want to expose.

“I am not indifferent to [Ancelotti's] departure because he has a very humane and professional management over the group and, when you feel good with a coach, you do not want him to go. But football is like that. This is something that the club has to manage; we, as players, are out of it.”

PSG’s director of football, Leonardo, is among those rumoured to be considered by the Ligue 1 side to replace wantaway boss Ancelotti and Lavezzi would not mind seeing the Brazilian take charge.

The former Napoli forward noted that Leonardo can “hold this position without problem” due to his past managerial experience with AC Milan and Inter.

The iconic ex-Brazil star believes that the Barcelona and Real Madrid target should give something back to the club where he has made his name

Neymar must help “pay his dues” to Santos before leaving for Barcelona or Real Madrid this summer, according to Brazil legend Pele.

The attacker is currently mulling over contract offers believed to be from the two Spanish clubs after the Brasileiro side accepted bids for the 21-year-old on Friday.

Pele admits that if he had the money he would buy Neymar to ensure he stayed at Santos, and believes he owes a debt to the club where he made his name even though he appears to have his heart set on a move to Europe.

“He needs to pay his dues to Santos,” Pele told O Rai on Friday.

“If I could, I myself would buy [Neymar] to help him stay at Santos. They are a team that have thrived with youth players – they did not spend any money for me, [ex-Brazil forward] Pepe, [former attacker] Coutinho and now with Neymar. I think the club should keep him.”

Neymar had suggested in the past that he would remain at Santos until after World Cup 2014, but Santos are keen to cash in on the starlet as he enters the final year of his current contract.