For the last three years, Les Gones have been in decline in terms of recruiting high-profile players. However, Jean-Michel Aulas did once came close to signing Santos star Neymar three years ago
20-year-old Brazil international, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Santos-c32532 and has been touted a move to Europe for a long time.
Many clubs have expressed their desire to sign the highly-talented striker whose technique has mesmerised everyone. However, Santos have proven to be shrewd dealers when it comes to letting go of their most prized possession.
For the past two years, the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Anzhi have tried heaven and earth to bring the player to their side but Santos just won’t budge.
However, it is not these aforementioned clubs who identified the player’s talent. It was Ligue 1 giants http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130 who detected the star within the player early on his career.
Lyon’s scout in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marcelo-c23554 and president Jean-Michel Aulas’ advisor, Bernard Lacombe knew there was something special about the young player who had recently made his professional debut as a 17-year-old back then.
While talking to Sport 10, the two men revealed that Lyon actually came close to signing the player three years ago. Marcelo says that in 2009, he made reports on Neymar and Ganso when no one in Europe knew them. Marcelo then revealed that Lacombe came to
watch the player several times and fell for his charms instantly. However, signing the player was to be a financial impossibility.
“The first time I saw Neymar, it was in April 2009. He was very young and had an incredible talent, speed and extraordinary technique even though at times he would disappear from the game. But he already had great shooting power. I even talked to him after
a training session at Santos. I said, ‘if you want, I’ll take you to Lyon tomorrow! He said, ‘Ok, we leave tomorrow’. But it was financially impossible; he had a lot of clauses in his contract.”
Today, Les Gones would be regretting not having done everything possible to bring the Brazilian phenomenon to Stade de Gerland. Today, Neymar is spearheading both Santos and Brazil and would probably join either Real Madrid or http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 after the 2014 World
Cup in Brazil.
However, one thing can be confirmed. Lyon scouts know a talent when they see one.
Tags: