Mineiro about to Sign for Chelsea
CARLOS MINEIRO
By dixon9
September 20 2008
Chelsea are close to agreeing a deal to sign Brazil international out of contract Mineiro on a free transfer according to Scolari´s assistant Flavio Murtosa. Big Phil decided he needed cover for the injured Essien and suggested a few names to Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon. Mineiro has been a free agent since not having his contract renewed at Hertha Berlin at the end of last season.
"We have practically completed the recruitment of Mineiro," said Murtosa.
"He was available, out of contract with the German club, and at this time we had the chance to hire him and satisfy our need [for a new midfielder]."
At this time there are no clues as to the length of contract for Mineiro but apparently Ghanaian international Appiah – one of the names on Scolari´s possibles list – wanted three years and was discounted for this reason, so we should be looking at two years or less for 33 year-old Mineiro.
Arsenal took Mineiro on trial earlier this month and Birmingham have also been looking at him.
Mineiro is considered a defensive midfielder which does slightly beg the question of the necessity to sign him? Essien is at his best marauding forward which is perhaps what would have made Appiah the more desirable signing – unless Scolari wants cover for Mikel or indeed decides to use the youngster in his more natural attacking style which we haven’t seen so much to date at Stamford Bridge?
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
"Mineiro is a player I need because I lost Essien for six months and only John Mikel Obi is there for us," Scolari said. "He won't play this week but maybe after 10 days he will play. He needs to play in the reserve team and needs some time but that is good for me because he gives me some options."
Arsène Wenger had considered a move for the Brazilian but after watching him in a behind-closed-doors friendly the Arsenal manager said this month that nothing would happen "at the moment". Birmingham were reportedly also interested in Mineiro, who was offered an extension to stay at Hertha last summer but felt the offer was not good enough. He made 36 Bundesliga appearances for Hertha Berlin, scoring twice in an 18-month spell.
Liverpool fans may remember him from their Club World Championship final in December 2005 when the midfielder scored the only goal of the game, beating Liverpool's offside trap and slotting calmly past José Reina, to win the trophy for Sao Paulo. He was a late call-up for Brazil in the build-up to the 2006 World Cup, replacing the Barcelona midfielder Edmilson who suffered a serious knee injury, but did not play in Germany.
A year later, however, he was Dunga's first choice in midfield together with Arsenal's Gilberto Silva - keeping Manchester United's Anderson on the bench - as Brazil won the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela. He is highly respected in Brazil and Scolari knows him well, having given him his first cap in 2001. His tireless running makes him an ideal back-up for Essien - who is unlikely to play again this year - and his coach at Sao Paulo, Muricy Ramalho, once said: "The guy is incredible. He runs so much at times it makes you wonder whether he has got three lungs, not two, like the rest of us."
"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
"Mineiro arrived here today," Scolari said yesterday. "He arrived in very good condition from 10 days work in Sao Paulo in the club where he was player before. The fitness coach is good friend for us. He is maybe [available] for next weekend."
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.