Neymar: Pele stopped me from moving to Chelsea

Barcelona winger Neymar with three-time FIFA World Cup winner Pele and FIFA President Sepp Blatter in an archived photo.

Barcelona star Neymar has revealed that it was Brazilian legend Pele who persuaded him to reject Chelsea’s offer, and stay with Santos in 2010.

Writing in his recently published book title 'Neymar: My Story - Conversations With My Father,' the 22-year-old was quoted in the Daily Mail, “It was August 23, 2010. My father and I had a meeting with president Luis Álvaro at the Santos headquarters, inside the Vila Belmiro. Chelsea had made a huge transfer bid.”

He continued, “In the middle of our conversation, the president turned off the lights and pointed at an empty chair. ‘This is the chair of the great national sports hero. Since Ayrton Senna’s death, this chair is vacant. If Neymar Jr. stays in Santos and refuses Chelsea’s proposal, he will give his first step to sit in this chair.’ That made us think. That decision would be a turning point in my life. Even Pele called me. Can you imagine how important I felt? The King of Football called and asked me to stay.”

“He reminded me of his entire career with Santos, his five world titles with the national team and the club, and all the recognition he received. It wasn’t easy but it was the right decision for us. We did the right thing for our family, friends and my career.”

Neymar had eventually signed for Barcelona last summer for a fee reported to be €57 million after a long stretched transfer saga that involved Chelsea and Real Madrid as well.