RIO DE JANEIRO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The son of former Brazil great Bebeto has signed a new three-year contract with Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo.

Mattheus, an 18-year-old playmaker and product of Flamengo's youth academy, had been linked with moves to Juventus and Real Madrid.

"I am happy to be renewing my contract with Flamengo which is where I grew up," Mattheus said on Tuesday.

"My plan now is to get myself right physically because I haven't played for a while. I am training but it's not the same as playing. I want to wear the Flamengo shirt as soon as possible and help the club in 2013."

Mattheus had impressed European scouts in January while representing Brazil at the South American Under-20 championship in Argentina.

Bebeto scored 39 goals from 75 international matches for Brazil and was a member of the team's 1994 World Cup-winning team in the United States.