Rex
Mar 16 2005, 07:47 AM
AP
Brazil champion Santos beat out Manchester United to train a prospective future star - nine-year-old Jean Carlos Chera.
Santos brought the boy's family from southern Brazil and is paying him an undisclosed sum to train with the club in the coastal city of Santos.
"Our football people say he's something special, that he has exceptional skills for his age," Santos spokesman Aldo Neto said.
Chera's standout play as a midfielder for Adap club in Parana state drew the interest of several teams, including British powerhouse Manchester United.
Under Brazilian law, Chera was too young to sign a professional contract. Santos must renew its agreement with his family yearly until he's 16, Aldo Neto said.
"Nothing prevents him from leaving. He has no professional sports link to the club," he added.
Santos has a tradition of revealing young football stars.
Pele made his debut for Santos as a teenager, and was 17 when he won his first World Cup title in 1958. In 2002, teenagers Diego and Robinho led the team to the Brazilian championship and earned a berth on the national team.
European clubs are investing heavily in young Brazilian football prospects.
In February, Dutch club PSV Eindhoven won the rights to sign 13-year-old Maicon Vinicius da Cruz, known as Nikao, beating out FC Barcelona and Russia's CSKA Moscow.
Brazil champion Santos beat out Manchester United to train a prospective future star - nine-year-old Jean Carlos Chera.
Santos brought the boy's family from southern Brazil and is paying him an undisclosed sum to train with the club in the coastal city of Santos.
"Our football people say he's something special, that he has exceptional skills for his age," Santos spokesman Aldo Neto said.
Chera's standout play as a midfielder for Adap club in Parana state drew the interest of several teams, including British powerhouse Manchester United.
Under Brazilian law, Chera was too young to sign a professional contract. Santos must renew its agreement with his family yearly until he's 16, Aldo Neto said.
"Nothing prevents him from leaving. He has no professional sports link to the club," he added.
Santos has a tradition of revealing young football stars.
Pele made his debut for Santos as a teenager, and was 17 when he won his first World Cup title in 1958. In 2002, teenagers Diego and Robinho led the team to the Brazilian championship and earned a berth on the national team.
European clubs are investing heavily in young Brazilian football prospects.
In February, Dutch club PSV Eindhoven won the rights to sign 13-year-old Maicon Vinicius da Cruz, known as Nikao, beating out FC Barcelona and Russia's CSKA Moscow.