Robinho and Pele brought in by Santos to warn Neymar

Robinho and Pele brought in by Santos to warn Neymar: Don't sign for Chelsea!

Santos heroes Robinho and Pele have been drafted in to talk Neymar out of a move to Chelsea.

The Brazilian sports minister Orlando Silva has also been asked to intervene, while new national team boss Mano Menezes and World Cup winner Mario Zagallo embarrassed the 18-year-old by calling for Neymar to stay in the country as they sat alongside him at a press conference.

The immensely talented teen has been unsettled by the public attention about his future and responded to Menezes's and Zagallo's comments by admitting: 'I don't know if I will stay or go.

'There is a lot still left to happen. But I won't leave to be a reserve, it would be better to stay. Of course I'll take into account the advice of Mano and Zagallo - it may be too early to leave.' His words will give Santos hope as they go into a meeting with Neymar's father of the same name, and his agent Wagner Ribeiro in which improved terms will be offered on a contract that already runs till 2014.

It is understood that the player is reluctant to pass up the chance of going to Chelsea, but getting Manchester City's Robinho and the greatest player of all time to try and persuade him otherwise could make an impact.

The Barclays Premier League champions had an initial £17million bid rejected, but are ready to return with a £25m offer. Santos, who have threatened to report Chelsea to FIFA over their conduct, insist he won't be sold for less than his near-£30m release clause.

Zagallo tried to reason that Neymar was not yet ready for the physical English game, where so few Brazilian players have prospered.

'I think it is very early for a player of 17, 18, or 19 years to leave Brazil,' said Zagallo, who won the World Cup as a player in 1958 and '62, and as manager of the great 1970 team. 'The groundwork has to be done here.

'It is clear that from a financial point of view players always want to go, but in Neymar's case he would be going to an environment this isn't good for his body type. He needs to put on weight, so it's better to leave when he is 21 or 22.'

Menezes, who gave Neymar his Brazil debut in the 2-0 win against the United States last week, agrees with his predecessor.

Alongside Neymar at a publicity event in Sao Paulo, the new Brazil manager said: 'Maybe I more than anyone else wants our players to stay in Brazil. In this case I am very similar to Zagallo.

'We still haven't found the formula to make our players stay here longer.

'Of course I have to respect the interests of Neymar, but, thinking about Brazilian football, staying here is beneficial.'

Agent Ribeiro, speaking ahead of meeting the Santos management, said: 'There are times when (Neymar) says he wants to stay to play the Copa Libertadores (South American championship).

'But in the game in which he missed a penalty (against Vitoria in the Brazilian Cup final), his father was nearly attacked at the Vila Belmiro (Santos's home stadium). At the time, he came to me and said "let's go". He changes his mind and that's why we need to talk.'

Santos will argue that Neymar shouldn't be swayed by the riches available at Chelsea, pointing out that Robinho moved from Real Madrid to Manchester City for a great pay day, only for the transfer to damage the forward's career.

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