Neymar Exclusive: 'The turning point of my life was Pele telling me to snub Chelsea'

Neymar carries the hopes of the Brazilian nation on his shoulders — and is delivering some sublime football. Ahead of Brazil’s game against Chile, Sportsmail publishes a fascinating extract from his autobiography in which Neymar, 22, and his father chart the rise of a boy the family call Juninho.

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National icon: Neymar is leading Brazil's World Cup charge as the poster boy of the tournament

THE DAY I FEARED HE'D DIED

(by his father, Neymar Snr)

IN June 1992, four months after the birth of my son, we went to Santos to visit some relatives. I had played for Uniao FC on that day. I was driving with my wife Nadine at my side and our son Juninho was sleeping soundly, strapped to the baby seat at the back of my red car.

Driving down the mountain on a rainy day is always dangerous — especially on a road with a single lane and  two-way traffic. A car came in our direction. I swerved to the left. The other car crashed into us and went through my door. My left leg ended up above my right leg. My pubis and pelvis dislocated. I was in shock and yelled to my wife ‘I’m dying, I’m dying’. It all happened very fast and confusion settled in. The feeling that came next was even worse than pain and fear: Where was my son? Me and my wife couldn’t find Neymar Jnr. I thought he had been thrown out of the car.

We were almost certain we had lost our son. In the middle of the despair and with the pain in my pelvis, I can only remember  praying to God to take me instead of my son.

The car stopped on a cliff. There was a stream below. We were hanging just above it. Nadine had to get out through the back window. I was trapped by the seatbelt. Juninho was missing. The people who came to our rescue found Juninho under the back seat. Thank God! When they took him out, he was covered in blood and taken to a hospital. All that blood was from a small cut in his head made by a shard of glass.

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Lucky to be here: Neymar's father feared his son was dead just four months into his life after a car crash

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Firepower: Neymar curls a freekick towards goal as he limbers up ahead of the knockout stages

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Quiet reflection: Brazil's talisman takes a moment out from the session, hidden behind a static 5-man wall

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Samba magic: Neymar has scored four goals at this World Cup to fire Brazil into the last 16

SNUBBING CHELSEA

IT was August 23, 2010. My father and I had a meeting with president Luis Álvaro at the Santos headquarters, inside the Vila Belmiro. Chelsea had made a huge transfer bid. In the middle of our conversation, the president turned off the lights and pointed at an empty chair.

‘This is the chair of the great national sports hero. Since Ayrton Senna’s death, this chair is vacant. If Neymar Jnr stays in Santos and refuses Chelsea’s proposal, he will give his first step to sit in this chair.’

That made us think. That decision would be a turning point in my life. Even Pele called me. Can you imagine how important I felt? The King of Football called and asked me to stay. 

He reminded me of his entire career with Santos, his five world titles with the national team and the club, and all the recognition he received. It wasn’t easy but it was the right decision for us. We did the right thing for our family, friends and my career.

Neymar beats Fernandinho in training with outrageous skill

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Call from the top: A call from Pele, considered the greatest ever player, stopped Neymar joining Chelsea

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Praise: Neymar celebrates a goal for Brazil - a year after leaving home club Santos for Barcelona

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Master ball: Neymar stands over one of eight Brazuca balls - a tactic which could help him to the Golden Boot

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Man of many talents: Neymar leaps to head a ball towards goal in training

HIS JOY CAME BEFORE CASH

(by Neymar’s father)

When Neymar Jnr was 13 years old, my son and I went on a plane for the very first time. We spent 19 days in Spain. Real Madrid made a proposal similar to what Barcelona had made with Messi when he was a kid. They would take Neymar Jnr to Madrid and he would grow up in Spain, as a man and athlete. The payment was very good — and he was just a teenager!

After 19 days, he scored 27 goals at the training sessions. Within the first three days, we had agreed on everything. The contract was written. Juninho and his sister, Rafaela, were to receive scholarships. The only thing missing was his mother’s signature. Nadine had a ticket to go to Europe with me and Juninho, but preferred to stay at home with our daughter.

After less than a week, Juninho didn’t seem well. He started to feel homesick. He missed our family, our friends, his school, his city and Santos. He missed everything. The food was all right, but we really wanted to eat our good old rice and beans. No money can pay for that. I saw Neymar Jnr become sadder each day that passed. Even with everything Madrid were doing for us, I felt the moment wasn’t right. And Juninho agreed. So, we decided to fly back to Santos.

I didn’t care we were abdicating from so much money. All I wanted was for him to continue to play with joy. And there was no joy on those days. No money could ever change that