‘Summer’s Most Wanted’ – Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso
Santos have produced some great players in their history who have gone on to achieve excellence, both in Brazil and in Europe. Pele is the obvious example, but the likes of Robinho, Elano and Diego have all come through the ranks at Santos. The latest players to come off the Santos conveyor belt are attacking duo Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso. Manchester City have the first option on signing the duo but the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid have all been sniffing around the Brazilian pair recently.
Neymar is probably the most sought after player in Brazil at the moment. The 18 year old prodigy has been tipped to become a Santos legend since he was 13 and has been described as the best export from Brazil since Pato. Labelled the “next Pele” and the “new Robinho”, Neymar is a striker that can play on either wing or through the middle and is brilliant with both feet, can attack with pace and is a free kick specialist. Neymar is similar to Robinho as he is confident, likes the odd step-over and can beat his man with pure pace or trickery.
His shooting needs a bit of work but is improving all the time and his physique is a worry (he’s only 5’8’), with concerns that he is too small and fragile for the European style of play. But Neymar’s level of skill more than makes up with it and even small players can make it in Europe, as Leo Messi is an inch shorter yet still has become the best player in the world.
This season, Neymar has scored 12 goals in 17 games for Santos, including 5 goals in an 8-1 thrashing of Guarani in the Brazilian Cup last week. His performance’s this season have led to calls for Dunga to name the wonderkid in the Brazil squad for the World Cup, despite never appearing in a game for the senior side.
Paulo Henrique Ganso is another Santos player that is in high demand. Nicknamed “Ganso”, which means swan in Portuguese, the 20 year old midfielder has good vision, pace, passing and has a rocket of a left foot, which he uses to score some crucial goals from midfield for Santos. This season, Ganso has scored 11 goals in 18 games and has helped Santos to the top of the Brazilian league and ten points clear of second place Santo Andre.
Manchester City have first refusal on both of the youngsters for as long as Robinho is on loan at Santos, but it doesn’t look likely that they will be heading to Eastlands. Robinho has warned Neymar not to move to Man City, but if City secure Champions League football next season, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Brazilian changed his tune and starts declaring they are the best club in the world. Santos have also slapped a £31.5 million price tag on Neymar, which is the release fee in his contract and means only a few clubs in the world can afford to sign him. Neymar has been heavily linked to Chelsea, who need to get younger and the Brazilian could learn from the likes of Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. and develop into a world class player. If Man United find the cash from somewhere, they need an attacking midfielder and another striker so Neymar is young enough and talented enough to set Old Trafford alight.
Ganso, on the other hand, has said he will not be joining Man City, saying back in January:
“I don’t want to play for Manchester City. I’d rather play for a big European club, such as AC Milan, Real Madrid or Barcelona.”
With many teams in the market for an attacking midfielder, Ganso could be moving to England in the summer and would be cheaper than Neymar. His passing and goals from midfield would be a great asset for the top four Premiership clubs and both he and Neymar could leave Santos in the summer for the big money and bright lights of Europe.
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Y LOVE YOU NEYMAR AND GANSO
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Seriously? Pele hardly excelled in Europe, did he? Plus, it’s ridiculous to even suggest that two youngsters from the Brazilian league would come over and “set Old Trafford” alight. I highly doubt they’re that good yet.
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ricks Reply:
March 29th, 2011 at 7:45 am
I will make it easier for all the fans from English’s clubs ” NEITHER NEYMAR NOR GANSO ARE PLAYING IN ENGLAND, THEY WILL PLAY IN SPAIN OR ITALY!..WHY NOT COMING ? THEY ARE TOO GOOD TO PLAY IN THE EPL. THEY WILL PLYA FOR OR AGAINST THE BEST PLAYERS LIKE MESSI, RONALDO, KUN AGUERO, PATO
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algy Reply:
April 14th, 2011 at 10:21 am
just because spain has the two best teams doesn’t make it a better league….the gulf between the rest is huge, in england there are 6 top sides making it far more competitive…who cares where neymar and ganso go anyway. could easily end up in italy
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ricks Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 2:29 am
These two great players will play in Barcelona and Milan! The way Man U , Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal are playing are much lower thatn the La Liga teams! The best players love to go to Spain and Italy! NOT England!!
dan yu are dumb these two youngsters will own every single defender in europe neymar and ganso are the next pele and zico
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NEYMAR TE AMO MAS QUE TUDO NESSA VIDA TE AMO MAS DOQUE ESSAS VAGABUNDAS TE AMO MUITO MUITO MUITO MESMO VC E D+++++++++++++++++++++++
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I seem to remember another pair from Santos who turned out not half bad at all. They were a striker and an attacking midfielder too. Anyone remember Diego and Robinho? If Neymar and Ganso can be half as successful as those two, they’ll do ok in my books. The only thing I’d hope for (as I did with Robinho and Diego) is that they move to the same club. As a Roma fan, Id happily have either of them.
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Dan, seriously, how ignorant can you be? first off, Pele never played for a club team in europe (hello wikipedia anyone?). 2nd, yes he did “succeed” in europe by winning the wc at just 17 in sweden
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What are all the about, most of the stars that has gone to europe to place a landmark did get all the hyping while in Brazil e.g the legendary Ronaldo and Rivaldo. So lets be calm about these two lads and give them some time.
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Most of the guys who has come over to the european soil to rule the world from Brazil was never heard of while in their home soil e.g the legendary Ronaldo lima and Rivaldo. so lets wait and see what actually comes out of these two guys instead of making all the noise.
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Jason 1 dan 0
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*Jonson i meant
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