Vinicius Junior is new Neymar wanted by Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona
Flamengo's flying winger is only 16 years old but he is already attracting attention of Europe's big clubs
MANCHESTER UNITED, Chelsea and Barcelona are among the clubs chasing the latest player to be labelled "the new Neymar" – Flamengo winger Vinicius Junior.
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In years gone by Ronaldo or Pele were the greats against which all Brazilian talents were measured. But now that player is Barcelona star Neymar.
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Like the Brazil talisman, Junior is a left winger who can also play on the right or up front. He is just 16 years old and boasts a prolific scoring record for his country.
Junior has netted 17 goals in 18 appearances for Brazil’s Under-17 side – a record which is sure to catch the attention of Selecao coach Tite before too long.
Prior to that he bagged six in as many games for the under-15 side.
However, there is no rush for the teenage talent to leave South America as Fifa rules mean he won’t be allowed to move to another continent until he turns 18 next year.
Neymar, who Junior describes as his idol, did not leave South America until he was 19 and had made more than 100 appearances for Santos.
In the meantime, Flamengo have tried to protect their interests with a hefty buyout clause – reported to be £26million – in Junior’s contract which runs until 2019.
That price will be more than justified if he replicates his form at youth level for Flamengo’s first team.
Junior’s biggest asset is his speed with the ball at his feet. His pace means he is an effective outlet and can drive his side up the field in a matter of seconds, hugging the touchline like an old-fashioned winger.
His ability to beat players is devastating - though he is on the end of some firm tackles as a result - and he has an end product to boot.
At the 2017 South American Under-17 Championship in Chile he, like Neymar before him, was the stand-out player, attracting scouts from across Europe.
With seven goals in the competition, Junior steered Brazil to victory but did not net in the 5-0 rout against the hosts in the final. He scored different types of goals, with a perfectly-weighted lob in the win over Colombia the pick of the bunch.
Lining up on the left-hand side of a three in the final, Junior came closest to adding to his tally with an audacious effort off the outside of his right boot after cutting in from the right.
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Despite his preference for the left, Junior switched flanks with Paulinho throughout and looked comfortable on the right.
Barca star Neymar has already begun the charm offensive in a bid to persuade Junior to follow him to the Nou Camp.
Neymar told him via a video: "I am here to send you a big hug, grateful for the affection you have for me. A lot of success, a lot of luck, continue like this and keep scoring many goals."
Junior responded on Instagram, saying: "Huge thanks, idol. The best in the world!"
Some reports go further, suggesting Barcelona have already held formal negotiations with Flamengo about a future deal for the whizz kid.
Andre Cury – the man who helped Barca sign Neymar from Santos in 2013 – has reportedly held advanced talks with the Spanish club’s head of youth, Pep Segura, and that it is only FIFA’s rules against under-18s making international transfers preventing the deal being formally completed.
Flamengo are desperate to try to either remove or increase the buyout clause in Junior’s contract.
But negotiations over a new deal have reportedly stalled meaning anyone who meets the £26million asking price will be able to speak to the teenager.
Junior is a Manchester United transfer target but talks between the two clubs broke down last year according to ex-Flamengo president Kleber Leite, who remains close to key figures at the Rubro-Negro.
Leite says that Fred Luz, Flamengo’s general director, told him of an approach from Jose Mourinho’s side.
He said: "[Luz] told me that he was contacted a while ago by a representative of Manchester United, who wanted to discuss the possibility of them having priority for a transfer.
"The talks didn't get far, because Fred Luz told them plainly that future discussions would depend on the immediate payment of a sum that would give them priority among offers of equal value.
“At that point, the Englishman, who thought it was going to be a piece of cake, left and didn't return.”
United could be left to rue that mistake with a host of Europe’s biggest names in hot pursuit.