Big Phil's Blues get a Brazilian
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Chelsea have confirmed they are on the brink of signing Brazil international Mineiro as a replacement for the injured Michael Essien.
Luiz Felipe Scolari has been pressed into action following a long-term knee injury suffered by Essien and is now close to concluding a free transfer move for his countryman, who is available outside the transfer window having left Hertha Berlin over the summer.
Mineiro, 32, also reportedly had a trial with Arsenal recently but it is West London where he will be plying his trade for the 2008-2009 season after agreeing to join The Blues as cover for John Obi Mikel.
It is believed that the holding midfielder successfully underwent a medical on Friday and Scolari’s assistant, Flavio Murtosa, has confirmed that Mineiro is on the way to Stamford Bridge.
“We have practically completed the recruitment of Mineiro,” Murtosa told Radio Bandeirantes.
“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].”
Despite Arsenal’s possible need for midfield reinforcements, Wenger has ruled out a move for Mineiro having already dismissed suggestions that he could be poised to sign Ghanaian free agent Stephen Appiah.
"At the moment we do not sign Mineiro - the questions [about transfers] are endless here!," said Wenger.
"You have players who have no contracts who can sign anywhere they want, but at the moment we are not on the verge of signing anybody."
Mineiro has 25 caps for Brazil and is well known to Scolari having spent the majority of his career in his home country with teams such as Ponte Preta, Sao Caetano and Sao Paulo.
He joined Hertha Berlin for the 2006-2007 campaign and made 36 Bundesliga appearances in two seasons with the club.
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scholari building senior citizens club is it :(
get more youngsters pls!
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Mineiro Awarded Squad Number
Chelsea Football Club have published their updated squad list, with new numbers for recent recruit Mineiro, and a couple of youngsters too.
Chelsea have confirmed that latest acquisition Mineiro, who signed on a free transfer following an unsuccessful trial period with Arsenal, will be given the number 27 shirt,
The Blues slaughtered fellow Premier League side Portsmouth last night and two youngsters who were on the bench - Miroslav Stoch, and Michael Mancienne - have also been included. They will sport 43 and 42 on their backs respectively.
The full list, also on available on the club's official website, is featured below:
1. Petr Cech
2. Branislav Ivanovic
3. Ashley Cole
5. Michael Essien
6. Ricardo Carvalho
8. Frank Lampard
9. Franco Di Santo
10. Joe Cole
11. Didier Drogba
12. John Mikel Obi
13. Michael Ballack
15. Florent Malouda
16. Scott Sinclair
17. José Bosingwa
18. Wayne Bridge
19. Paulo Ferreira
20. Deco
21. Salomon Kalou
23. Carlo Cudicini
26. John Terry
27. Mineiro
30. Rhys Taylor
33. Alex
35. Juliano Belletti
39. Nicolas Anelka
40. Henrique Hilario
41. Sam Hutchinson
42. Michael Mancienne
43. Miroslav Stoch -
hmm 27 or 14? i saw it on wiki it was 14.
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come on.. please kick anelka ass out of chelsea.. time to let my di santo to shine!!
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weird, but CFC webby says 27.
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its 27
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When it still wasn't confirm, they (The news guys) put him in 14 cos there was "a hole" in there... Just like with Berbatov... But now that he has join them, I guess the club have decided where to put him... I don't think he is a long term player... Just a temp move... They didn't even mentioned how many yrs contract he has signed...
To think he has been on trial with clubs looking for a job and Arsenal despite not having enough midfielders didn't even want him... He can't be first team material... He is just there to make up the numbers at Chelsea until Essien comes back...
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Big Phil is doing a wonderful job at Chelsea;
....but his greed to win all 4 trophies may cost him dearly.
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until the end of the season
i believe big phil knows the best for his own brazilians
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i think this guy won't see much action, he's there to cover obi who is now covering for essien...