GET OUR TOP TIPS

FOLLOW CRUNCHSPORTS

FC Barcelona target Neymar backed to finish as top goalscorer at London 2012

Neymar (R) (credit: Francis Bompard/Getty Images)
Brazil striker Neymar has been backed to top the scoring charts in the men's football at the London 2012 Olympics after showing why Barcelona are ready to pay £40million to secure his services.

Neymar scored a superb free-kick and made the other two goals in Brazil's 3-1 win over Belarus on Sunday, with the 20-year-old putting in a world-class man-of-the-match performance.

With Spain suffering a shock early elimination from the tournament, and Uruguay flattering to deceive, bookmakers William Hill on Monday afternoon made the Samba Boys huge odds-on favourites to win the Gold Medal, ahead of Great Britain and Japan.

And £40m-rated Neymar is now favourite to finish as top goalscorer.

William Hill spokesman Mark Young told Crunchsports.com: "Team GB looked a lot better on Sunday than they had previously but Brazil look a class above.

"With Spain's elimination it is no surprise that Brazil have gone odds on after netting six times in two games."

Neymar, who is expected to move to Europe before his Santos contract expires in 2014, has also been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Juventus, and Real Madrid, but Barca are widely seen as favourites to sign the youngster if and when he leaves his homeland.

Before Sunday's game, Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu had hinted at a summer move for Neymar by stating that he hopes the player moves to Spain at the conclusion of the Games.

"We would all like Neymar to come after the Olympics," Bartomeu told Barca supporters' groups in Morocco.

"He is a Santos player [at the moment] but I am sure Neymar will come to Europe in the future, and when that moment arrives we will be attentive so he can sign for Barcelona."

Recent Olympic Football Articles

  • Brazil v Mexico gold medal match (15:00 BST)11 Aug 2012

    Brazil v MexicoMen's Olympic Football Gold Medal MatchWembley StadiumSaturday, August 11th 2012, 17:00 BST Brazil take on Mexico this afternoon at Wembley Stadium in the final of the Men's Olympic Football at the London 2012 Olympics. Brazil coach Mano Menezes could make changes to the side t...

  • Olympic Football 2012 fixtures for Saturday, August 11th11 Aug 2012

    There is one game taking place today in the Men's Olympic football at London 2012, as Brazil take on Mexico in the gold medal match. This afternoon's Brazil v Mexico clash at Wembley Stadium sees pre-tournament favourites Brazil also favourites to take the gold medal later today. Mano Menezes's tea...

  • Olympic Football 2012 fixtures for Friday, August 10th10 Aug 2012

    There is one game taking place today in the Men's Olympic football at London 2012, as South Korea take on Japan in the bronze medal match. Tonight's South Korea v Japan clash at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff will see an Asian football team win an Olympic medal for the first time in 44 years. Ja...

  • Olympic Football 2012 fixtures for Thursday, August 9th9 Aug 2012

    There are two games taking place today in the Women's Olympic football at London 2012, with United States taking on Japan in the gold medal match. The USA scored a last-minute winner in extra-time to reach the final of the Olympic women's football tournament after they beat Canada 4-3 in a thrillin...

  • Olympic Football 2012 fixtures for Tuesday, August 7th7 Aug 2012

    There are two games taking place today in the Men's Olympic football at London 2012, with favourites Brazil in semi-final action. Tuesday's knockout games at the London 2012 Olympics see Brazil take on South Korea, while Mexico face Japan. Mexico booked their place in the last four after recording ...

  • Great Britain backed to NOT send a football team to the 2016 Olympics6 Aug 2012

    Bookmakers believe Great Britain will NOT send a men's football team to the 2016 Olympics after Team GB crashed out of the London 2012 Olympic Games on Saturday night. Stuart Pearce's side were knocked out of the Games by South Korea on penalties after the scores were level at 1-1 after extra-time....

  • Olympic Football 2012 fixtures for Monday, August 6th6 Aug 2012

    There are two games taking place today in the Women's Olympic football at London 2012, with Canada taking on the United States in one of today's semi-final clashes. Going in to Monday's semi-final games, USA are the odds-on favourites to win the gold medal, and they are expected to see off their ne...

  • Great Britain v South Korea (19:30 BST)4 Aug 2012

    Great Britain v South KoreaMen's Olympic Football Quarter-FinalsMillennium StadiumSaturday, August 4th 2012, 19:30 BST Teams: Great Britain: Butland, Taylor, Richards, Caulker, Bertrand, Ramsey, Allen, Cleverley,  Bellamy, Sturridge, Sinclair. South Korea: Jung, Yun, Kim Y, Ki, Ji, Park ...

  • Brazil v Honduras (17:00 BST)4 Aug 2012

    Brazil v HondurasMen's Olympic Football Quarter-FinalsSports Direct ArenaSaturday, August 4th 2012, 17:00 BST Teams: Brazil: Gabriel, Rafael, Thiago Silva, Juan Jesus, Sandro, Marcelo, Romulo, Leandro Damiao, Neymar, Oscar, Hulk. Honduras: Mendoza, Crisanto, Figueroa, Velasquez, A Peralta, Martine...

More Stories

Recent Articles

  • Mourinho to Chelsea FC? Higuain to Arsenal FC? Toure to Liverpool FC? Wednesday's transfer round-up22 May 2013

    Wednesday's round up of the top transfer stories from the past 24 hours... - Real Madrid have confirmed that Jose Mourinho will leave the Bernabeu at the end of the season, paving the way for the 'Special One' to return to Chelsea this summer. - Arsenal have put signing a world-class striker at the...

  • Robin van Persie backs David Moyes to be a success at Man Utd22 May 2013

    Robin van Persie has backed incoming Manchester United manager David Moyes to be a success at the club.Moyes was confirmed as United's new manager last week and has agreed a six-year deal to replace Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired after the Red Devils' incredible 5-5 draw with West Brom on Sunday.Th...

  • Rooney, Ronaldo, Gomez, Khedira, McCarthy - five Chelsea FC transfer targets22 May 2013

    Chelsea are believed to be preparing for the return of Jose Mourinho as manager after it was confirmed that the 'Special One' will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season. With Mourinho set to return to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are set to splash the cash during the summer transfer window, and&nb...

  • Pepe Reina flattered by FC Barcelona interest but settled at Liverpool FC22 May 2013

    Pepe Reina admits he is flattered by reported interest from Barcelona - but insists he is settled at Liverpool. Reports in Spain earlier this year suggested Reina had emerged as a target for Barcelona as they start their search for a replacement for Victor Valdes, who is out of contract at the end ...

  • Shinji Kagawa has been wasted by Man Utd says Jurgen Klopp22 May 2013

    Jurgen Klopp believes Manchester United have failed to make the most of Shinji Kagawa.Kagawa moved to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund last summer but has not enjoyed regular first-team football in his first season at Old Trafford.The Japan international had sometimes featured in a wide role und...

  • Man City to sign Chelsea FC target Edinson Cavani?22 May 2013

    Manchester City could be on closing in on the signing Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, who has also been linked with Chelsea. Cavani has been in superb form this season, and has also been linked with Arsenal, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in recent weeks. The Uruguay international las...

  • Romelu Lukaku insists Chelsea FC are still his 'dream club'22 May 2013

    Romelu Lukaku, who spent last season on loan at West Brom, has revealed he still dreams of becoming a success at Chelsea. Lukaku was a regular in the starting line-up for most of the campaign at The Hawthorns and ended his loan spell with a second-half hat-trick against Manchester United on Sunday....

  • Man Utd target Mats Hummels yet to receive FC Barcelona offer22 May 2013

    Mats Hummels, who has been linked with Barcelona and Manchester United, insists there has been no contact from Camp Nou officials about a possible summer move away from Borussia Dortmund. Reports last summer had suggested that Barca were considering launching a bid for the Germany internationa...

  • Petr Cech urges Chelsea FC to appoint Jose Mourinho quickly and bring in new signings22 May 2013

    Petr Cech has called for Chelsea to waste no time in appointing a new manager, with Jose Mourinho expected to return to Stamford Bridge this summer. Mourinho is the bookmakers' favourite to be installed as Chelsea's next permanent manager and on Monday evening it was confirmed that he will lea...

More Stories

Tags

#Bar, #CFC, #MAD

Share this with your friends

To:
From:
Your comments:

FC Barcelona target Neymar backed to finish as top goalscorer at London 2012

Brazil striker Neymar has been backed to top the scoring charts in the men's football at the London 2012 Olympics after showing why Barcelona are ready to pay £40million to secure his services.

Read more »

Join the Crunchsports Community Today

By registering you agree Terms of Service | View our Privacy Policy

Log In or Sign up

Facebook User?

You can use your facebook account to sign up with Live streaming sport.

Connect with facebook
Remember me.
Did you forget your password?

You Might Also Like