Neymar was chosen by Santos fans to wear the number 70 shirt on Sunday against Gremio Prudente.
Santos prodigy Neymar will forgo his usual number 11 shirt on Sunday against Gremio Prudente, in favour of number 70 chosen in homage to Peixe favorite son Pele's landmark birthday.
Globoesporte report that the forward was the runaway winner of a fans' poll commissioned to decide which player would have the honor of wearing the shirt in Sunday's match.
Neymar picked up 73% of the overall vote, with Arouca in a distant second with 11%. Before the results were announced, Neymar spoke about the possibility of honoring the Santos and Brazil hero in this way in a club press conference.
"I am going to honor him with pride. I believe that Pele is a source of inspiration for everybody, not just in football but across the sporting world. Unfortunately I never saw Pele play, but I have seen videos of his goals. I would take anything that Pele had to include in Neymar," the 18-year-old confessed in Thursday's interview.
Wayne Rooney has committed his future to Manchester United by signing a new five-year deal.
Wayne Rooney has performed a remarkable U-turn on his Manchester United future and has signed a new five-year contract days after he announced plans to leave.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson announced on Tuesday that the striker had informed him he would not ink a new deal.
A statement followed that night from Rooney that he had misgivings about the debt-ridden club's ambition and was immediately linked with Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea.
In a statement released on the United website, an agreement has been announced that followed, "intensive discussions between the club and the player’s representatives."
Rooney himself was "delighted" to tie his future to Old Trafford and revealed he had signed a new deal in the "absolute belief" the club are committed to maintaining its proud history.
He said: “I’m delighted to sign another deal at United. In the last couple of days, I’ve talked to the Manager and the owners and they’ve convinced me this is where I belong. I said on Wednesday the Manager’s a genius and it’s his belief and support that have convinced me to stay.
“I’m signing a new deal in the absolute belief that the management, coaching staff, board and owners are totally committed to making sure United maintains its proud winning history – which is the reason I joined the Club in the first place.
“I’m sure the fans over the last week have felt let down by what they’ve read and seen. But my position was from concern over the future. The fans have been brilliant with me since I arrived and it’s up to me through my performances to win them over again.”
Ferguson was happy to draw a line over "a difficult week" and was pleased Rooney had "accepted the challenge to guide the younger players and establish himself as one of United’s great players".
“It’s been a difficult week, but the intensity of the coverage is what we expect at Manchester United. I said to the boy that the door is always open and I’m delighted Wayne has agreed to stay," the 68-year-old stated.
“Sometimes, when you’re in a club, it can be hard to realize just how big it is and it takes something like the events of the last few days to make you understand. I think Wayne now understands what a great club Manchester United is.
“I’m pleased he has accepted the challenge to guide the younger players and establish himself as one of United’s great players. It shows character and belief in what we stand for.
“I’m sure everyone involved with the Club will now get behind Wayne and show him the support he needs to produce the performances we know he is capable of.”
When Internazionale sold Mario Balotelli to Manchester City, Inter patron Massimo Moratti claimed the youngster was dispensable in part because of the arrival of Philippe Coutinho.
Simultaneously, hordes of fans moved the cursor over to Google and typed in the Brazilian's name.
What they will have found out is that Coutinho is an 18-year-old attacker, diminutive in stature, who Inter bought as a 16-year-old and loaned back to Vasco da Gama for two seasons. They would have read that he became a starter in Brazil, leading Vasco back to the top division and shining for the Brazilian U-17 side.
What they won't have learned is how quickly Coutinho would adapt to Italy, though Rafael Benitez never had any doubts.
"He has many qualities, we're expecting him to do well straightaway," said BenÃtez at the press conference introducing Coutinho. "He can be the future of Inter."
In that press conference, the youngster revealed himself a humble and meek alternative to the brash malcontent of Balotelli. When asked if he played like Wesley Sneijder, Coutinho almost blushed.
"I resemble Sneijder? If only; I would like that, and how."
Benitez slowly eased Coutinho into the lineup in the early weeks, giving him substitute appearances. Against FC Twente, Coutinho played the last half hour and created two goal-scoring chances and took two shots. In the next Champions League matchup, Coutinho earned his first start, capitalizing on a shakeup from the loss to AS Roma and an injury to Diego Milito.
Inter won 4-0.
Coutinho has started the three matches since, in each further brushing aside his timidness. He even earned his debut for the Brazil national team against Iran earlier this month.
His watershed moment came Wednesday against Tottenham Hotspur. Floating in from his left flank like usual, the Brazilian combined ball control as tight as the curls in his hair with short sharp passing (he completed 65 out of 73 feeds) to dismantle Tottenham and give Inter a 4-0 lead by halftime.
Despite assisting one goal and creating another in the first half, Coutinho's slickest moments perhaps came in the second half when he moved more centrally alongside Sneijder. There he teamed up with his mentor to showcase a technically precise and eye-pleasing Inter fans won't be used to seeing.
Count Sneijder among his fans as well. "With his qualities he will make it; he will make it for sure," the Dutch playmaker told UEFA.com.
It's still early. Coutinho will have many more obstacles to maneuver around in his slick fashion, including when Milito returns to fitness and when opposition teams start signaling him out for particularly rough marking. But thus far Coutinho is carving out his place in Inter.
"I thought it would be more difficult to come into a squad that won everything last season," Coutinho admitted to UEFA.com, "but, thank God, I immediately found my place."
