---
title: "Revealed: Chelsea failed in swoop for Ballon D’Or favourite"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/revealed-chelsea-failed-in-swoop-for-ballon-dor-favourite/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Josh Challies"
section: "Chelsea Football Club"
published: "2015-11-12T19:20:17Z"
modified: "2015-11-12T19:20:17Z"
---

# Revealed: Chelsea failed in swoop for Ballon D’Or favourite

![Neymar](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Neymar-500x327.jpg)Chelsea fans in the Transfer Tavern are wondering what might have been, after it was revealed they failed in a swoop for one of the favourites to win the Ballon D’Or this year.

[*Sambafoot,*](https://www.sambafoot.com/en/news/77620_ex_santos_president_reveals_chelsea_s_attempt_to_sign_neymar_in_2010.html)[a website which specialises in Brazilian football, claim that the Blues failed with a €30m swoop to sign Neymar from Santos five years ago](https://www.sambafoot.com/en/news/77620_ex_santos_president_reveals_chelsea_s_attempt_to_sign_neymar_in_2010.html); a deal that would have seen Chelsea sign one of the most exciting prospects in world football.

The reveal comes via former Santos president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro, who [states in a new biography that the Premier League giants held huge interest in Neymar five years ago](https://www.sambafoot.com/en/news/77620_ex_santos_president_reveals_chelsea_s_attempt_to_sign_neymar_in_2010.html); when the Brazilian superstar was just 18.

Chelsea have strong links with the South American nation, capturing the likes of Oscar and recent addition Kenedy, but failed to secure a deal for Neymar- who eventually joined Barcelona in 2013 and has enjoyed huge success since.

His contributions to the Catalan side helped Barcelona win a treble last season and Neymar has shone this campaign, stepping-up in the absence of the injured Lionel Messi.

**Chelsea fans, how huge a signing would Neymar have been? Is he better than Eden Hazard? Let us know in the comments below!**