SEARCH

Subscribe to our newsletter:

Name:

Email:

where do you live?
UK BRAZIL SOMEWHERE ELSE

WHO'S THE NEXT KING? Is there a new Pelé amongst the next generation?

Bye Mom | The early departure of players like Pato and Robinho from their clubs no longer impresses fans in Brasil, who are used to their best players heading off for Europe. At the end of last year, yet another bright young star, defender Breno, swapped SĂŁo Paulo FC for Bayern Munich at just 18 years of age.

It's a rare occurrence when young players stay in the country for longer. Currently, the biggest names playing in Brasilian football are the mid-fielders Thiago Neves, from Fluminense – who played for a short time over in Japan – and Hernanes, from São Paulo FC, as well as striker Lulinha, from Corinthians. The last two have recently had their contracts renewed, increasing contractual fines. Their clubs have done this to make as much money as they can off possible – and inevitable –negotiations with European teams.

But the insistence of European clubs in their search for the "new Pelé" isn't the only reason for the mass exodus of young Brasilian soccer stars; the players also aim at reaching Europe, or any other country that offers better wages. The majority of Brasilian teams are financially unstable and can't compete with the dollars and euros offered by the gringos.

"Going to Europe at such a young age was like a dream come true. I'm aware that I'd never have the same kind of financial security in Brasil that I have now. I can peacefully plan the rest of my life, I have a certain stability and what you might call financial independence", explains 22-year-old defender Lima, who swapped Atlético Minero for Real Betis (Spain) last year. "I wasn't actually that young when I went to Europe, was I? Nowadays there are kids of around 17, 18 coming over. I was 22, I'm almost a veteran in this field", adds the footballer.

Lima's right. As well as players like Breno and Alexandre Pato, two other youngsters abandoned their clubs at an even earlier age than the defender. Mid-fielder Anderson, who plays today for Man United, was transferred from Grêmio to Porto when he was 17, in July 2005 – but just like Pato, he could only start playing professionally after he turned 18. And Lucas, who plays for Liverpool, left Grêmio when he was 20, after being vice-captain during the Libertadores.

Young or old, the number of players leaving Brasil each year is increasing. In 2007, according to figures provided by the Brasilian Football Confederation, 1085 Brasilian players left the country. The previous year, 851 athletes had gone abroad.

The main destination is, of course, Europe. And the result is that Brasil possesses the largest number of players in the main competition of international clubs; the Champion's League. In 2007, 98 Brasilian players were signed up for the tournament (France comes in second place, with 64 players having participated).

Of the under-20s Brasilian squad that took part in the 2007 world championships, at least ten players had already played for foreign teams. As well as Pato, other European veterans included strikers Luiz Adriano (Shakhtar Donetsk), JĂ´ (CSKA Moskow) and Carlos Eduardo (Hoffenheim), mid-fielders Leandro Lima (Porto), William (Shakhtar Donetsk), Marcelo (Real Madrid) and Eduardo Ratinho (Toulousse), and goalkeeper Cassio (PSV), as well as defender David Luiz (Benfica).

In comparison, Brasilian clubs rush to repatriate unhappy players wanting to return home. Last year, 489 footballers came back to Brasil, according to the CBF. In 2006, 311 athletes returned.