Chelsea target Gabriel Barbosa set to consider future

Santos’ highly-rated forward Gabriel Barbosa is set to consider his future at the club after winning gold with Brazil at the Rio Olympics .

The 19-year-old went to the 2016 Games being linked with a host of Premier League sides, including Chelsea and Manchester United, but put speculation on hold as he helped the Selecao beat Germany in the final of the Olympic football tournament at the weekend to take gold on home soil.

With the Games now over, Barbosa – also known as ‘Gabigol’ for his goal-scoring exploits – has revealed he will think about his future at Santos.

“Up until now, I haven’t really had the time to think about anything because my attention was completely on the Olympics,” the forward said.

“Now I will celebrate with my family, then I will return to Santos and think about what I should do.”

Barbosa’s agent last week insisted that reports saying he was close to a move to Manchester United was “merely speculation”.

However, Barbosa did suggest he would like to play alongside his Brazil teammate Neymar at Barcelona in the future.

When asked about playing with Neymar, who scored the winning penalty in the Olympic football final, at Barcelona he said: “He is a great player and playing alongside him would truly be beautiful.”