Falcao? Suarez? Lewandowski? Just when you thought the Bayern Munich transfer rumors couldn't get any crazier, Brazilian starlet Neymar da Silva Santos Junior gave an interview to Germany's SID stating: "Bayern are a big club with extraordinary players. Playing for Bayern is something I could imagine doing. There is nothing that speaks against this."
Pep Guardiola is certainly a lure, but it goes beyond that for the 21-year-old forward. He's enamored of Bastian Schweinsteiger - indeed, who isn't? - saying of the Bayern midfielder: "Schweinsteiger is one of the best players I have ever seen. It is the basics that make him strong: his positioning, his passing and his presence on the field."
Barcelona and Real Madrid might be the overwhelming candidates to capture Neymar, but he didn't rule out a move outside Spain: "I dreamed to play in Europe since I was a child, but it is important I feel good and adapt with the rest of the team. [The transfer] doesn't have to be Spain necessarily."
Sounds good, right? Except there's only one problem with this. After Breno busted-up his knee and was arrested for arson, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge gave an interview to German media Dec. 7, 2011, that was re-posted worldwide, stating Bayern had given up on recruiting young talent from South America, and would be looking at home turf to develop players: "That's where our attention is at the moment, and that means fewer young players from other countries and continents." He continued: "We will not sign any more young players from South America, that doesn't make sense."
Breno was the final straw in a group of South American straws who didn't cut the mustard at Bayern Munich. Paraguayan Roque Santa Cruz joined Bayern in 1999 for 5 million euros.
Despite having a decent run of play in his first season, he spent more time injured or battling for a spot in the Startelf with Claudio Pizarro, Giovane Elber and Roy Makaay. After just 156 apperances for die Roten in eight seasons, he went on to better success with Blackburn Rovers and is currently on loan at Malaga from Manchester City.
Fellow Paraguay countryman Julio dos Santos signed with the Bavarians in 2006 and spent two seasons out on loan to VfL Wolfsburg, Almeria and Gremio. Since 2009, he's been playing for Cerro Porteno, his childhood club.
Jose Ernesto Sosa joined Bayern in 2009 from Argentinian club Estudiantes LP. He only managed 35 apperances in three years with Munich, and was sent back to his former club in 2010. After a one-year stint at Napoli, he is now with Metalist Kharkiv.
So, what about current Brazilians Rafinha, Dante and Luis Gustavo? And why are they different? The trio all spent years in Germany before coming to Bayern. Rafinha was with Schalke 04 five years, Luis Gustavo had four with Hoffenheim, and Dante three with Borussia Moenchengladbach--- although he'd been in Europe since 2004.
All had assimilated to German culture and the German language (mostly, and sometimes hilariously) before coming to the uber-scrutiny of Bayern Munich, only needing to concentrate on football without all that pesky schooling.
And what about Neymar? Well, it's a slightly different case as he's been on the international radar for some time now. It's not like it's necessary to send a scout to Brazil to catch some kid who might be a secret and the next big thing. That said, he'd at least have fellow countrymen to communicate with when he's not taking German lessons.
Will Karl-Heinz Rummenigge go back on his word? And would the board splash the cash on that kid from Santos? Only time will tell.