Dante reveals Neymar interest

Bayern Munich centre-back Dante has admitted he has spoken with Santos striker Neymar regarding a move to the Allianz Arena.

The highly-rated forward has been linked with a move to the Bundesliga frontrunners, along with the likes of Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Whilst on international duty with Brazil, Dante has revealed he spoke to Neymar regarding a move to Bayern, as the defender hopes his Samba Boys team-mate will join the Bavarian outfit.

He told Sky Sports: "I told Neymar there is nothing better than Bayern Munich.

"I said it would be a great club for him."

Neymar: The pressure is huge in Brazil

The Santos and Brazil star opened up to FIFA.com about fatherhood, his club future, the mood in Brazil ahead of a vital two years for ...

Thanks to his outlandish hairstyles, high-prolife presence in the No11 shirt and vast repertoire of tricks and flicks, Neymar has made a name for himself right across the football world. Yet despite the glare of the spotlight, there is no question of the Brazilian entertainer being fazed by it all.



Recently named South American Footballer of the Year for the second time in a row, the Santos and Brazil striker is taking everything in his stride and keeping his feet firmly on home soil, despite attracting the much-reported attention of Europe’s biggest clubs.



A succession of titles have come his way already in his short career, among them the 2011 Copa Libertadores, and as he prepares to win yet more in the year ahead, he gave a wide-ranging interview to FIFA.com at the recent FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala.



Among the topics up for discussion were the recent changes in the national team set-up, life as a father, his take on 2012 and the contract with O Peixe, which expires next year.



FIFA.com: How do you feel about taking part in the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala for a second time?

Neymar: I’m very proud and happy to be here. To be taking part in such a big party as this, with all the world’s best players here and to be side by side with my heroes, is something that I’m thrilled about obviously.



Does the fact that you’re South American club football’s only representative make it even more special?

It is a special feeling, yes. I think I’m doing a good job and that I’m on the right track. I’m very pleased to be achieving the goals I’ve set myself, and I hope to keep that going and be at the next galas too.



You were nominated for the second time running for the FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of the year. Is scoring great goals another of the objectives you set yourself every year?

No, no. That’s just how it’s worked out, and it’s not like I’m out there on the pitch trying to score fantastic goals. Thanks to God I’ve managed to score some very nice ones and more than anything else they’ve been good enough to get me to the Gala.



Do you enjoy scoring goals as much as providing assists?

I enjoy both. If I can’t score, then creating a goal makes me happy too. To tell you the truth, every time I play a pass and a team-mate scores from it I get the same feeling as I would if I’d scored.

Every time I play a pass and a team-mate scores from it I get the same feeling as I would if I’d scored.- Brazil and Santos attacker Neymar

Which do you find hardest: performing on the pitch or bringing up a child?

That depends on the situation (laughs). My son is nearly 18 months old and he’s starting to give me a lot of work now too. I’d have to say it’s a little more difficult bringing up a son.



How would you describe yourself as a father?

A very happy one, and I’m grateful to God for giving me this wonderful gift. I fuss over him a lot, as you’d expect. I spend as much time with him as I can, whether I’m at a pre-match get-together, at home, or at my mother’s place. I want to be with him as much as possible.

Neymar goes one to one on Lionel Messi during Club World Cup in 2011.

Let’s turn to football now. What was your personal highlight of 2012?

It would have to be the Brazilian championship game against Cruzeiro (Neymar scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win for Santos last November), when I got a round of applause from all the opposition fans. It was a very emotional moment for me. I felt very honoured, I have to say, and it made a big impact on me.



Tell us about your experience at the London Olympics, where Brazil lost to Mexico in the final.

It’s a tough one because it was a very happy time but sad too. I learned an awful lot from it. A lot of athletes go to the Olympics in search of a medal, whether it’s a bronze, silver or gold, and we came away with a silver. It’s not what we expected but for a sportsman it’s still wonderful. It was a shame to lose the final but I’m also happy to be a medal-winning athlete.



You’ll be facing Mexico at the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013. Is that a chance for revenge?

A little bit! (laughs) We’re really up for it after losing that final, though we don’t have anything against them obviously. That’s football. In every final there’s a winner and it went their way that time. I think they deserved it too.

Neymar eye to take revenge when they face Mexico for FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013.

What do you owe former Brazil coach Mano Menezes?

Mano brought me into the team. He gave me my first call-up, and I learned a lot of things with him. Every coach you work with has their own way of doing things and you learn a little from each of them. It was no different with Mano, and I learned a lot too.



How do you feel about Luiz Felipe Scolari’s arrival?

There’s a huge amount of expectation. He’s a great coach, whom I’ve played against, and he’s also a great person. I hope we can show that when we play and win all our games.



Scolari was the last Brazil coach to win the world title at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™. What memories do you have of that competition?

I remember it clearly. I was ten and I’d get up very early because it was morning in Brazil when the games were played. I cheered them on all the way and shouted my head off in the early hours. I remember all the goals, especially the ones in the final.



How important will the FIFA Confederations Cup be bearing in mind Brazil haven’t played much competitive football in the last few years?

It’s a really important tournament and we’ll be facing some top-quality teams. It’ll help us prepare for the World Cup, and we need to make the most of it by building a team with a new coach and getting used to a totally different approach. For the good of the team we need to do that as quickly as possible.



The pressure is huge. It’s always there, no matter where we play, but it’ll be even bigger at home.- Neymar



Are you ready to cope with the pressure of playing two major competitions in front of fans as demanding as Brazil’s?

The pressure is huge. It’s always there, no matter where we play, but it’ll be even bigger at home. We’re aware of that but we like it. It’s nice pressure. I’ve been fortunate enough to win finals in different tournaments and it’s fantastic to feel that pressure to succeed. We’re prepared for all of that. Brazilian players just accept it, and we’re preparing for that moment.



Do you agree with Ronaldo’s recent comment that Brazil are not among the top five sides in the world right now?

If you look at the Ranking, Brazil aren’t in the top five at the moment. But we’re working hard on the team’s identity and at becoming more of a unit. We haven’t been playing together for that long. The team’s been through a lot of changes and it needs time to forge that identity and reach the top again.



What are your objectives for 2013?

To help Santos first of all by winning titles any way how, whether it’s with goals, passes or sliding tackles. That’s what matters. And the same goes for the national team: to win titles and take it back to the top.



Will you still be at Santos after the FIFA World Cup?

Even I don’t know that. My contract runs to 2014 but there’s still a long way to go before the World Cup. I don’t know if I’ll renew it or not. It’s a personal issue and I’ll have to talk it through with my family and Santos. We’ll definitely speak about it further down the line.



Dani Alves told us he’s always telling you to sign for Barcelona.

(Laughs) Dani’s always embarrassing me! He’s put me in a tight spot.



Do you think staying in Brazil for so long will delay your development as a player?

No. You can develop and improve your game whether you’re in Brazil or not. Personally I feel I’m becoming a better player and getting more experience as every year goes by. Some people say you have to leave to develop but I don’t agree with that.



You’re only 20 so how do you handle all the success you’ve already had and being world-famous?

I know a lot of things are going on in my life and that everything’s happened too fast up to now, but I do feel prepared for what’s to come. Whenever an opportunity has come my way I’ve worked hard to make the most of it and that’s why I’m so happy. My aim now is to win more things, both with Santos and Brazil. My goal is to keep growing as a player and as a person too.

Thursday's round up of the top transfer stories

- Chelsea target Neymar could follow Pep Guardiola to Bayern Munich, according to reports in Spain.



- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed the club are ready to battle Manchester United for Crystal Palace prodigy Wilfried Zaha.



- Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal are prepared to spend big this transfer window – and has expressed an interest in Napoli’s Edinson Cavani.



- Everton have lodged an £8.5m bid for Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue, according to sources in France.



- QPR’s hopes of adding Real Madrid defender Ricardo Carvalho to their growing squad have been hit by the Spanish club’s injury list.



- Galatasaray have revealed the size of the offer accepted by Inter Milan for Wesley Sneijder, with £6.2million the going rate.



- Newcastle United and Sunderland target Moussa Sissoko will today decide whether or not to accept an offer from Marseille.



- Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has cooled talk of a move for Leeds striker Luciano Becchio.



- Wigan have signed goalkeeper Joel Robles on loan from Atletico Madrid until the end of the season.



- Wigan midfielder Shaun Maloney has signed a new two-and-a-half year contract at the DW Stadium, the Barclays Premier League club have announced.



- Sunderland have made a bid for Swansea City's Danny Graham



- Manchester United have suffered a transfer snub after Pescara star Juan Fernando Quintero revealed his intention to move to Inter Milan.



- Manchester United's Federico Macheda could be about to join Stuttgart on loan, with an option to make the move permanent.



- Manchester United are considering a bid for Real Madrid midfielder Angel Di Maria as a possible replacement for Nani, according to Fichajes.net.



- Man Utd have once again sent scouts to watch Benfica defender Ezequiel Garay in action, according to the Daily Mail.



- Reading striker Gozie Ugwu has agreed to join League One strugglers Plymouth on a one-month loan deal.



- Southampton winger Jason Puncheon has revealed he hopes to win a new deal at St Mary's.



- Stoke boss Tony Pulis would not be drawn on the future of striker Kenwyne Jones after confirming that midfielder Maurice Edu will spend the rest of the season on loan with Bursapor.



- Victor Valdes' representatives have told Barcelona he will not consider extending his stay at the club.



- AC Milan have admitted to being in talks with Real Madrid regarding the possibility of taking Kaka back to Italy on loan.



- Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini has stated that his club are nearing closure on a deal for veteran Chievo shot stopper Stefano Sorrentino.



- USA international Graham Zusi admits he is still waiting to hear from West Ham if he will be handed a permanent contract at Upton Park.



- Pascal Chimbonda could follow in the footsteps of Thierry Henry, David Beckham and Robbie Keane and become the next Premier League export to move to the MLS.



- Christian Eriksen, who has been linked with Liverpool and Tottenham, looks unlikely to leave Ajax this month, according to his agent.



- Ajax outcast Miralem Sulejmani is finally ready to leave the club and move to Benfica - having failed to earn a dream move to England.



- Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, could be on his way to Valencia, according toCadena Ser.



- Schalke general manager Horst Heldt has not ruled out selling players this month amid talk Lewis Holtby could make his move to Tottenham during the current transfer window rather than in the summer.



- Marseille are desperate to find a replacement for new QPR man Loic Remy - and they have set their sights on West Ham striker Modibo Maiga.



- Lyon have rubbished speculation linking playmaker Yoann Gourcuff with a move to Arsenal.



- Celtic have signed midfielder Tomas Rogic on a four-and-a-half-year contract from Central Coast Mariners.



- New Blackburn boss Michael Appleton has warned West Ham they will have to up the ante if they are serious about signing defender Martin Olsson.



- Walsall have rejected a bid from Bradford for captain Andy Butler.



- Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway has confirmed his interest in DJ Campbell, but he faces competition for the QPR striker.



- Leeds United youngster Dominic Poleon has signed a new deal with the club.



- Nottingham Forest have sacked long-term boardroom members Mark Arthur, Frank Clark and Keith Burt.



- Nottingham Forest are lining up a move for Millwall striker Darius Henderson.



- Huddersfield Town are leading the race to sign Bradford City's exciting young striker Nahki Wells.



- Port Vale have announced that the club have signed former Sheffield Wednesday left-back Daniel Jones following his release from Hillsborough.



- Flamengo announced their fourth signing of the 2013 season in the shape of former Corinthians centre-back Wallace on a four year-contract.

Neymar rules out January move

Neymar has ruled out the possibility of moving during the January transfer window by insisting his short-term future remains with Santos.



The 20-year-old has been strongly linked with a transfer to one of Europe's top teams, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea thought to be the leading contenders for his signature.

Reports emerged last week that Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain had travelled to South America top open talks with Neymar's representatives.

However, the Brazil sensation, who already has 27 senior caps for his country and more than 50 club goals to his name, is keen to remain at his boyhood side for now.

He told TV Bandeirantes: "I am happy at Santos, with my family, son, friends, so it's not the moment to leave.

"That moment will come because I have the dream of playing in Europe since I was a kid, but that moment hasn't come yet. Today, I don't see myself playing for any other team [but Santos]."

Despite Manchester City apparently having stepped up their pursuit, Neymar is keeping his options open.



He said: "I don't have any preference for a specific club or country."


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Blatter tells Neymar to move

At a news conference for the draw for the 2013 Confederations Cup, FIFA President, Sepp Blatter told reporters that it would be difficult for Neymar to consider himself the best in the world until he has played in Europe.

Neymar was not one of the 3 finalists for the Ballon D’or 2012 award, despite starring this year for Santos and the Brazilian National team. Portugal’s CristianoRonaldo (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, both of Barcelona, were the final three players chosen to win the coveted award.

“Neymar, who is extraordinary, always comes to mind,” Blatter told reporters when speaking about the best players in the world. “It is an unfortunate fact for a player like Neymar, who had an excellent opportunity [to be more 'visible'] in the Olympics, that those who decide who wins the Ballon D’or are managers, captains and the press. It is not easy for him to win because the concentration of stars is in Europe”.

The Confederations Cup 2013, is to be held between 15 and 30 June in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Recife and Fortaleza and Blatter also expressed confidence that Brazil has the stadiums to become “The Mecca of football world” and acknowledged that any problems “will be overcome” before the start of the tournament.

With 130,000 pre sale ticket orders for the 2014 World Cup, Blatter noted that this was already ten times more than it had at the same time for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.




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Thursday's round up of the top transfer stories

- Santos striker Neymar, who has been linked with the likes of Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid, has been told to snub a move to the Premier League.



Pele was quoted as saying by The Sun: "Neymar would be better in Spain or France."



Barcelona are widely seen as favourites to win the race to sign the £40million-rated forward.



- Didier Drogba has been denied a request to leave Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua on loan ahead of the transfer window.



- Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale has joined Hull on loan after manager Steve Bruce missed out on signing Shay Given from Aston Villa.



- Aston Villa are locked in a two-way battle with Fiorentina to sign France Under-21 left-back Massadio Haidara.



- Real Madrid rejects Everton offer for Denis Cheryshev.



- Tottenham are increasingly hopeful they can lure Danish wonderkid Christian Eriksen to White Hart Lane in January, according to Dailymail.



- Tottenham have failed in a second bid to sign Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic, according to Mirror.



- Arsenal are still showing interest in Toulouse defender Aymen Abdennour, according to reports in France.



- Arsenal are ready to make a move for Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in the January transfer window, according to Dailymail.



- Leeds have signed Swansea centre-half Alan Tate on an emergency loan until 1 January.



- Leeds have signed West Brom winger Jerome Thomas on loan until January.



- Nottingham Forest have signed Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton on loan until January.



- Bristol Rovers have signed defender Guy Branston on a one-month loan deal from fellow League Two strugglers Aldershot.



- Sky Sports understands Blackpool have agreed a deal to sign Bournemouth striker Wes Thomas on loan.

Friday's round up of the top transfer stories

- Barcelona are set to offer Lionel Messi a two-year contract extension, according to Barcelona-based radio station RAC 1.



- Santos striker Neymar, who is understood to be a target for the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, has insisted that he has not agreed to move to Europe until 2014.



- Partizan Belgrade insist Lazar Markovic, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, will not be sold in January.



- Liverpool teenager Suso has signed a new long-term deal after establishing himself in the first-team squad this season.



- Everton have confirmed the signing of German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger on a short-term deal until January.



- Birmingham goalkeeper Jack Butland, who has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, could be sold in January, according to the Daily Mirror.



- Andre Ayew, who has been linked with a number of clubs including Arsenal and Chelsea, has told the official Ligue 1 website that he is unaware of any plans for Marseille to sell him in January.



- Anderlecht general manager Herman Van Holsbeeck has admitted that midfielder Lucas Biglia, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal, could be on the move in January.



- Liverpool are showing interest in PSV Eindhoven striker Jurgen Locadia, according to the Daily Mail.



- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he will not be looking to enlist the services of an emergency loan goalkeeper after he was plunged into a goalkeeper injury crisis earlier this week.



- Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has dismissed the latest suggestions that Yaya Toure is looking to leave the Etihad Stadium.



- Manchester City have seen an offer rejected for Portuguese starlet Bruma, according to talkSPORT.



- Tottenham look set to beat Juventus to the signature of Russia star Alan Dzagoev, according to sources in Russia.



- PSG are ready to rival Manchester United and Real Madrid for the signature of Porto star James Rodriguez.



- Montenegro star Stevan Jovetic insists he is happy at Fiorentina after hinting that he spurned interest from Manchester City and Juventus in the summer.



- Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has revealed that James McFadden is about to sign a short-term deal with the club.



- The agent of Fulham starlet Alex Kacaniklic claims there are a number of clubs interested in his client - but says the young Swede is committed to life at Craven Cottage.



- Newcastle boss Alan Pardew says he has a list of seven central defenders he will be looking to choose from when the January transfer window opens.



- The agent of Alex Kacaniklic claims his client remains fully committed to Fulham as reports link him with a move to Italy.



- Manchester United and Chelsea are both tracking promising Italian defender Mario Sampirisi, according to reports in Italy.



- Jose Mourinho believes Nuri Sahin's loan spell at Liverpool will help Real Madrid get a larger transfer fee when the Spanish club go on to sell him.



- Christian Eriksen's agent says his client will remain at Ajax despite more interest in the talented playmaker.



- Radamel Falcao is a player who could make a difference to Manchester City and may be their top target in January, according to the club's chief scout.



- Bayern Munich chairman Uli Hoeness believes Holland international winger Arjen Robben will end his playing days at the Allianz Arena.

Monday's round up of the top transfer stories

- Neymar has hinted that he could be tempted by a move to England amid reports that he is wanted by Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid, according to Sky Sports.



- Arsenal are preparing to step up their interest in Atletico Madrid forward Adrian Lopez, according to The People.



- Ashley Cole is ready to walk out on Chelsea at the end of the season after failing to agree terms on a new contract. Cole is adamant he will not sign a one-year extension.



- Paris Saint Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti has hinted he is ready to make a move for Roma's Daniele De Rossi in January.



- Anzhi Makhachkala are keen on signing Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic, according to the Daily Star.



- And United are considering selling Vidic next year, according to Goal.com.



- Barcelona defender Andreu Fontas has joined Real Mallorca on loan after the Balearic outfit were given permission to make an emergency signing.



- Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone has dismissed claims he is looking to return to Italy.



- Radamel Falcao, who is a target for Chelsea and Manchester City, would be a success in the Premier League, according to City midfielder Javi Garcia, who has told Sport360 that he would love to see the Atletico Madrid striker move to the Etihad Stadium.



Falcao was linked with both Chelsea and Premier League champions Manchester City throughout the summer and is believed to be a January target for both clubs.



- Chelsea outcast Florent Malouda is set for a January move to Brazilian club Santos.



- Sky Sports understands Manchester United have rejected several enquiries from Championship clubs to take Robbie Brady on loan.



- MK Dons boss Karl Robinson has rejected the notion of striker Ryan Lowe joining Tranmere on loan.



- Liverpool are lining up an ambitious La Liga double swoop for Atletico Madrid winger Arda Turan and Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez, according to talkSPORT.



- Chelsea could add to their growing Brazilian contingent with a move for Corinthians anchorman Paulinho.



- Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool could consider making a move for AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng in January, according to reports in Germany.



- Fulham midfielder Pajtim Kasami could leave the club in January, according to Swiss newspaper Sonntags Zeitung.



- Tottenham are to make a move for Valencia attacking midfielder Jonas in the January transfer window, according to reports in Spain.



- According to the programme 'Futboleros', on MARCA TV, Real is combing the market for a goalkeeper to compete with Casillas and who would be a suitable reliable replacement for him in case of injury or suspension.



- Manchester City are in no rush to extend Yaya Toure's contract, according to reports.

Barca seal neymar move for 2014

Barcelona have sealed a deal which would see talented young Brazilian striker Neymar join the Spanish club in 2014, Cadena SER radio reported.



The report claimed the Catalan giants have already paid €14.5 million ($19 million) of the total €58-million transfer fee to the 20-year-old's Brazilian club Santos.



"According to several reliable sources Barca have already paid a quarter of the €58 million to Santos to guarantee the transfer of the player," Cadena SER claimed, adding that the date for his transfer was after the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.



The report added that the decision to seal the deal was taken by the player and his father against the wishes of his agent Wagner Ribeiro.



Neymar is considered the future star of Brazilian football and has been targeted by several European clubs, including Barcelona's rivals Real Madrid.