Jean Carlos Chera - The Early Years

Jean Carlos Chera He may well be a future sports idol...but it's really too early to tell.

At 4-foot-6, weighing all of 77 pounds and only 9 years old, Jean Carlos Chera won't be able to play in the European Union until he turns 18.

But that's not stopping Manchester United and other top teams from courting the young soccer genius who currently plays on the youth teams of Associacao Desportiva Atletica in Brazil.

It was only when the club featured a video clip of the child prodigy on its Web site that word spread - as it often does on the Internet - like lightning.

In fact, it was Jean Carlo's own lightning speed displayed in the videos (up against other youth players Jean Carlos is seen scoring goals from midfield) that reportedly attracted teams from the U.K., Germany, France and Portugal among others.

Jean Carlos Chera in action.

For now, team officials are fielding calls from far-flung soccer clubs around the globe and trying to keep the youngster out of the media spotlight for as long as possible.

Jean Carlos Chera may be one of the youngest players to grab the attention from European clubs, but he's not the only one - which may explain the rush to sign with the world's top soccer clubs.

It was two years ago that Manchester United tried to attract the interest of a 14 year-old American soccer phenomenon, Freddy Adu, who later signed with D.C. United of Major League Soccer.

also see -> David Beckham | Michael Owen | Ronaldo

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