Cobham : Chelsea signed Brazilian international midfielder Ramires on Friday but their pursuit of his compatriot Neymar is not going quite as smoothly.
Ramires, who helped Benfica to the Portuguese title last season, will bolster a Chelsea squad which has been stripped of experienced midfielders Deco, Michael Ballack and Joe Cole since the Blues completed the Premier League and FA Cup double.
Great opportunity
"Every player in the world would love to play for Chelsea and it's a great opportunity that was given to me, I will give my best to repay this chance, and I am very happy," the 23-year-old, who agreed a four-year deal after passing a medical, told Chelsea's website.
The fee was in the region of £17 million (Dh97.4 million), British media said.
"He's a fantastic player, he's a fantastic midfielder. He's very young, he will be the future of the Brazilian national team and, I hope, he will be the future of Chelsea," Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.
Rio-born Ramires made his debut for Brazil in 2009 and appeared in four of his country's five matches in South Africa but was suspended for the quarter-final defeat by the Netherlands.
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