Chelsea have been told they signed the wrong Brazilian in wonderkid Estevao Willian, with Neymar a more suitable option for the Blues.
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Premier League giants spending heavilyFavouring potential over pedigreeMore movement expected in summer of 2024Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
That is the opinion of ex-Stamford Bridge star William Gallas, who would have loved to see a more experienced option welcomed to west London. Neymar has seen questions asked of his future during an injury-ravaged spell in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal.
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He has been linked with Premier League clubs on a regular basis in the past, and Gallas has told of Chelsea favouring potential over pedigree in their latest South American transfer business: “If I had the money I would’ve preferred to spend it on a player like Neymar. Someone with experience who will know how to adapt very quickly, it’s harder for young players. You can say that the money is an investment for the future but the Premier League is much tougher than La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A and even the Bundesliga, it’s far more physical. It can be hard for players, even for Neymar. Because Neymar needs space and he also needs rest, playing every three games can be really intense. But it would be good to see him in the Premier League and fans will love him too, I’m not sure if he could work with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal but Neymar to Chelsea, why not?”
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Gallas, who also spent time with Arsenal and Tottenham during his career in England, also believes that Chelsea should be monitoring Marcus Rashford’s situation at Manchester United. He added on the 26-year-old, who missed out on a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad: “Could Marcus Rashford join Arsenal or Chelsea? Anything can happen in football. I don't know if Chelsea can give him the opportunity to refresh himself, he has to think things through. But looking at his time in the Premier League, he has never scored 20 goals in a season, the best strikers have always done that.”
WHAT NEXT?
Chelsea have invested heavily across recent transfer windows, as they build towards what they hope will be a bright future, with further deals for the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Omari Kellyman completed in 2024 – with the promise of more movement to come.