Premier League - Chelsea seal Mineiro deal

Eurosport - Thu, 25 Sep 10:10:00 2008

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Mineiro on a deal that will see the Brazilian stay at Stamford Bridge until the end of the season.

FOOTBALL Mineiro - 0

The defensive midfield player was released by Hertha Berlin at the end of last season and had been without a club since.

The 33-year-old becomes the third Brazilian in compatriot Luiz Felipe Scolari's squad, after defenders Alex and Juliano Belletti.

Mineiro has won 24 caps for Brazil and was a member of the 2006 World Cup squad, as well as appearing against England at Wembley in 2007.

Scolari told the club's official website: "He is a player that I need because I lost Michael Essien for six months. I have one midfielder like him, [John Obi] Mikel.

"So this week he will not play but maybe after 15 days to two weeks, he is ready to play normal games. He needs to play some games in the reserve team, and for me it is very good because I have one more player in this position. If not I have to put in Belletti or [Paulo] Ferreira, or [Michael] Ballack, and they are not for this position.

"I say to fans of Chelsea, if they remember [Claude] Makelele, Mineiro is the same. Good positionally, a very good marker. He is a man that works for the other players and he is also a good man outside of the pitch."

Mineiro spent 18 months with Berlin, making 36 Bundesliga appearances and scoring twice, after having moved to Europe from Brazil, where he had spells with Ponte Preta, Sao Paulo and Sao Caetano.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 19 of 39

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  1. Let Big Phil bring the players he thinks are good for the job... as long as he promises two big titles this year. We do not want those from our rivals, of course let alone Ronaldo. I feel sick just by mentioning his name.

    Chelsea till I die.

    My regards to CFC fans and CFC Fans only.

    From Bel, on Thu 25 Sep 12:17AM

  2. he looks like that yellow guy from sin city

    From kaosullivan, on Wed 24 Sep 11:22PM

  3. comment # 2 alex k
    ok dickface, you say what he said in Portuguese!
    w*nker.

    From frankiethebear2002, on Wed 24 Sep 11:14PM

  4. So the brazilian rumba has started. Nice to see the Man & the team doing well.
    It also looks like that we have found a very good replacement for Makelele in this Mineiro.
    I think Big Phil should of come to the Bridge years ago.
    Come on you Blues

    From DAVID, on Wed 24 Sep 10:45PM

  5. i think we need more quality players as possible because this years titles are there for our taking no matter what! so scolari is right. BLUES FOREVER!!!!!! SHERIFF

    From tijani711, on Wed 24 Sep 10:39PM

  6. i think what scolari did or said is a good thing
    and i pray that the blues will live foreven and
    to win all the cups.

    From gidiwuni, on Wed 24 Sep 9:06PM

  7. i think what scolari did or said is a good thing
    and i pray that the blues will live foreven and
    to win all the cups.

    From gidiwuni, on Wed 24 Sep 9:06PM

  8. i think what scolari did or said is a good thing
    and i pray that the blues will live foreven and
    to win all the cups.

    From gidiwuni, on Wed 24 Sep 9:06PM

  9. i think what scolari did or said is a good thing
    and i pray that the blues will live foreven and
    to win all the cups.

    From gidiwuni, on Wed 24 Sep 9:02PM

  10. i am asenal fan but i like what scolari has just done. that is what a good coach shud do when in need. sign those who missed the transfer window due to their greed to serve as back-up for injured players. for those of u that do not undrestand, he is only joining to fill in for injured essien. he is not going to be a first team player but a back up in central midfield. good work scolari. you are a good coach indeed. now coaches are beggining to learn how to have back-ups when the going gets tough.

    From chima, on Wed 24 Sep 8:05PM

  11. It sounds like he is a good man for the Job. But his age bothers me. Is he any better than Stephen Appiah who is on the market at the moment?

    From Yaw Atwereboanah, on Wed 24 Sep 7:55PM

  12. Is Chelsea becoming the new elephant graveyard? watch out portsmouth

    From P Diddy, on Wed 24 Sep 7:30PM

  13. Looks like Chelsea is slowly becoming a haven for old has beens Deco,Ballack and now Mineiro, carry on Scolari are you getting confused with the Chelsea pensioners

    From Pete, on Wed 24 Sep 7:22PM

  14. i have not really seen him play but the records i have about him tells me he can be good as said. we are the blues and we don't believe kids play. we are always in for winning every other thing comes secondary. this is another year for us to make records, maybe unbeating record or picking 4
    obodo richard c port harcourt-+2348033252834

    From richy obodo, on Wed 24 Sep 7:19PM

  15. Its gammon for dinner

    From Some S, on Wed 24 Sep 7:09PM

  16. i have not really seen him play but the records i have about him tells me he can be good as said. we are the blues and we don't believe kids play. we are always in for winning every other thing comes secondary. this is another year for us to make records, maybe unbeating record or picking 4
    obodo richard c port harcourt-+2348033252834

    From richy obodo, on Wed 24 Sep 7:03PM

  17. i have not really seen him play but the records i have about him tells me he can be good as said. we are the blues and we don't believe kids play. we are always in for winning every other thing comes secondary. this is another year for us to make records, maybe unbeating record or picking 4

    From richy obodo, on Wed 24 Sep 7:02PM

  18. Word. :))

    From Bogus5, on Wed 24 Sep 6:44PM

  19. lol 15 days to 2 weeks- what a @#$%.

    From Alex K, on Wed 24 Sep 6:20PM
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