By Alex Labidou
Speaking before Santos accepted two bids, believed to be from Barcelona and Real Madrid, for the forward, the Blues’ star reveals his advice to the starlet on a European move.
Chelsea star David Luiz says that he would love to line up alongside Neymar in a Blues shirt.
Speaking before news broke that Santos have accepted two bids from unnamed clubs, understood to be Barcelona and Real Madrid, the defender outlined his opinion that European football would improve the young forward, who says that he will take his time to decide his future.
“I hope I can play with him at Chelsea,” Luiz told Goal. “Neymar is a great player.
“Of course I’ve talked to him about European football and I said to him: ‘You need to do things you have inside your heart’.
“If he is happy to stay in Brazil, stay in Brazil but, if he wants to move, he needs to move because Europe can take a lot of potential, you can learn many different things about tactics and you improve your game.”
With Jose Mourinho set to seal a return to the Blues’ hotseat following his departure from Real Madrid, Luiz is excited about working with the Portuguese.
“If he comes back for Chelsea, I think he is a great coach,” he enthused. “He has a lot of credibility in the world because he always did a great job. So of course everyone wants to have an opportunity to work with him.”
Asked if he had spoken to longer-serving team-mates about what Mourinho’s return would mean, the Brazilian replied: “They don’t need to talk to me. I know about football.
“I know about Jose Mourinho and I watch TV. I know him from Portugal, I know many things about him, so I know he is a great coach.”
Luiz impressed Chelsea supporters in 2012-13 with his increasingly frequent contributions in a midfield role rather than centre-back and he is enthusiastic about his development, though he has no particular preference over where he plays.
“It was amazing for me because I learned many things, new things, that can help me for the future to improve my game and to be a better player,” he remarked of his new position. “That is why I work hard every day, to improve, to help the team. It was a great season for me and for the team.
“I love football. It doesn’t matter if I need to play in midfield or centre-back or striker or whatever; I want to help my team. I’m happy with the ball, I’m happy because I have the best job in the world.”
