Ceni backs Lucas to shine

Sao Paulo favourite Rogerio Ceni has every confidence in the future prospects of teenage star Lucas Moura.

Lucas, 19, wowed Sao Paulo fans with some sparkling performances during his breakout season in 2011.

But he has since engaged in several high-profile clashes with club coach Emerson Leao, which have coincided with a drop in form.

Lucas’ agent Wagner Ribeiro went as far to call his client ‘a poorly-driven Ferrari’, in reference to Leao’s apparent inability to get the best from one of his major assets.

According to veteran goalkeeper Ceni, who is recovering from injury and is expected to resume action later in the year, the teenage star is a rare talent and should be treated as such.

“I speak with Lucas almost every day,” Ceni told Globoesporte.

“We need to appreciate this kid. He will be, no doubt about it, the star of the decade for this club; just like Kaka was in the 2000s and Denilson in the 1990s.”

“I don’t think that he has talked about any serious issues, but the problem is that you (journalists) need news and you end up exaggerating things.”

Sao Paulo sit third in the Campeonato Paulista standings behind Corinthians and Palmeiras, having lost only one game so far in 2012.

With stars like Lucas and Luis Fabiano in the squad, Ceni feels he is part of the best Sao Paulo squad for several years.

“I can see this side is the best of the last five years, even counting 2008 when we were Brasileirao champions – we still did not have a team like this. They have everything: commitment, power and playing options,” he said.