Sao Paulo's Rogerio Ceni: Lucas Moura can be as big as Kaka & Denilson

Mar 15, 2012 1:35:00 PM

The teenage star has been unsettled at his club after several clashes with coach Leao, but the injured goalkeeper believes he will be the star of the decade

Sao Paulo goalkeeping legend Rogerio Ceni has affirmed his faith in wonderkid Lucas Moura, expressing that he believes the midfielder can go on to join Kaka and Denilson in becoming an idol for the Tricolor.

The 19-year-old has had a number of high-profile clashes with club coach Emerson Leao, which have coincided with a drop in the scintillating form seen across his breakout season in 2011.

Lucas' agent Wagner Ribeiro went as far to call his client "a poorly-driven Ferrari" in reference to the trainer's alleged incompetence.

According to Ceni, who is currently 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. 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," the 39 year old told Globoesporte on Thursday.

"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 currently lie third in the 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 is in no doubt that he is seeing the best Tricolor team in 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 explained.

Sao Paulo are back in action on Sunday, when they meet Santos in the Morumbi.

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