PSG confirm Lucas deal

Paris Saint-Germain have announced that Brazilian starlet Lucas Moura is to join the club in January.

 Lucas, 19, had attracted attention from Manchester United and Inter Milan before PSG made their move, and a deal reported to be in the region of €45 million is now in place.

 A statement on PSG's official website read: "Paris Saint-Germain and Sao Paulo FC have reached today an agreement for the definitive transfer of Lucas Rodriguez Moura Da Silva.

 "The player and Paris Saint-Germain have also signed an agreement from January 2013 to July 2017. The player will join Paris Saint-Germain and his new team-mates in January 2013 for the second half of the season 2012-2013.

 "By signing a young talent of the quality of Lucas Rodriguez Moura Da Silva, Paris Saint-Germain is already preparing the future."

 PSG have invested heavily this summer, with the Lucas deal following the arrivals of stars including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

 Thiago Silva revealed PSG sporting director Leonardo, a former Sao Paulo player, had sought his advice before completing the deal.

 The defender told reporters: "Leonardo asked my opinion on Lucas. I told him only good things about him - not because he is my friend by because he has enormous technical quality.

 I will be happy to have him alongside me at PSG. He will play a big role. He is skilful in front of goal."

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PSG poised to hijack United's £30m bid for Brazil ace Moura

Paris Saint-Germain have launched a last-minute bid to hijack Lucas Moura's move to Manchester United.

 The Sao Paulo playmaker has virtually agreed to join the rich French club on a five-year deal.

 The 19-year-old's agent Wagner Ribeiro held talks with PSG's sporting director Leonardo last week and watched their friendly against Barcelona before reporting back to Lucas.

 United had been confident that their pursuit was coming to an end after receiving encouragement that their £30million bid would finally be accepted.

 The Old Trafford club had even prepared the ground for Lucas to have a medical over the weekend, but the Brazil national team insist they will not release him until the end of their participation in the Olympic football tournament.

 But it is understood that PSG, owned by rich Qataris, are prepared to offer a better fee and terms for one of South America's hottest prospects.

 And authoritative Brazilian media outlet Globoesporte also claim that Lucas is reluctant to move to Manchester. Agent Ribeiro also represents Robinho who has told the teenager that the northern English city is boring.

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BREAKING NEWS: Brazil dismiss reports that Lucas Moura is having Manchester United medical

The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) have denied reports that they have given permission for midfielder Lucas Moura to travel to Manchester to perform a medical.

 The Daily Mail have claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson remained in England while his squad traveled to Norway for a pre-season friendly so that he could tie up a deal with the 19-year-old instead, with Manchester United apparently agreeing a £30m deal for the Brazilian.

 However, the CBF have released the following statement: "Unlike the Daily Mail newspaper published in the edition this Sunday under the title "United to splash £ 50m on Brazil 's Moura and PVR" is not true that the player will perform medical examinations Lucas Sunday in Manchester.

 "The Board of the Brazilian has not received any request from the English club for this purpose. If you receive will not allow a player to leave the concentration to do it."

 The Sao Paulo midfielder is currently with the Brazil side who are competing in the men's football tournament at the Olympic Games, and have reached the semi-final stage and will face South Korea on Tuesday.

 Lucas has netted 14 goals for Sao Paulo from his 59 appearances for the club, and has also 15 senior international caps to this name.

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Lucas won't leave - agent

The agent of Brazil star Lucas Moura believes that Manchester United will not raise their bid for his client, leaving any deal in tatters.

 Lucas, 19, was thought to be close to a switch from Sao Paulo to the Red Devils, but the two clubs have failed to agree on a fee after Manchester United's €35 million bid was rejected.

 Now, with Sao Paulo reported to have changed their mind over a sale should they receive an increased bid, agent Wagner Ribeiro has claimed that the Premier League side have reached their limit for Lucas and a deal will not take place.

 "They have reached their limit," Ribeiro told UOL. "Lucas Moura won't leave. He is happy at Sao Paulo. We have to forget this subject. There is no possibility he leaves now.

 "Manchester United made an offer, which was rejected and they won't make another one as they have reached their limit." For Sao Paulo, the decision not to sell represents a major financial gamble.

Lucas' economic rights are currently 80% owned by the club, with the player retaining the remaining 20%, but from August 1 that ownership share will fall by 10% under the terms of his contract.

 If a deal cannot be struck by Tuesday next week, Sao Paulo risk losing nearly €4 million off any equivalent value transfer, with many believing that this financial reality will see further developments made in the coming days.

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United 'need to offer more' for for Brazil star

Sao Paulo say they have rejected a Manchester United offer for midfielder Lucas Moura, telling United they "need to produce a little more".

 United have so far declined to confirm or deny an interest in the 19-year-old, but officials at the Brazilian club are adamant that they have received, and turned down, a bid.

 The Old Trafford club were reported to have sent a delegation to Brazil to hold talks over a transfer for Lucas, who is currently in the UK with the Brazilian Olympic squad and has also been linked with a move to Real Madrid or Inter Milan.

 Sao Paolo director Marco Aurelio Cunha told us: "Manchester United made a very important offer of €35 million, but they would need to produce a little more.

 "For us, only Neymar [in Brazil] is worth more. After him is Lucas, and we would not want to sell for less than this sort of value. "We do not need the money.

 The Brazilian economy is good, television pays us and we cannot complain.

 For us, it is still better to have a good player than lots of money in the bank."

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Mourinho in Silva and Chelsea's target Lucas Moura raid

REAL MADRID will table a £30million bid for David Silva this week.

 Real boss Jose Mourinho wants the Manchester City star to add more creativity to his Spanish champions.

Silva was being pursued by the Madrid giants before he signed for Manchester City in a £24m deal from Valencia two years ago.

But Jose Mourinho failed to follow up their initial interest when he took over at the Bernabeu.

Now he has had a change of heart after seeing the way Silva, 25, helped City secure the Premier League title.

Madrid will also step up their attempts to beat Chelsea for the signature of Brazilian starlet Lucas Moura.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich personally sanctioned a £32m bid for the rising Sao Paulo star.

His agent insists Moura will not move until after the 2014 World Cup — but that claim has fallen on deaf ears in Madrid. champions.

 Silva was being pursued by the Madrid giants before he signed for Manchester City in a £24m deal from Valencia two years ago.

 But Jose Mourinho failed to follow up their initial interest when he took over at the Bernabeu. Now he has had a change of heart after seeing the way Silva, 25, helped City secure the Premier League title.

 Madrid will also step up their attempts to beat Chelsea for the signature of Brazilian starlet Lucas Moura.

 Blues owner Roman Abramovich personally sanctioned a £32m bid for the rising Sao Paulo star.

 His agent insists Moura will not move until after the 2014 World Cup — but that claim has fallen on deaf ears in Madrid.

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