Brazil blend brews at Evergrande
Print Edition
LUIZ Felipe Scolari says he has stuck to a simple mantra since joining forces with Chinese powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande in a shock move last month: go with what you know.
Hence the distinctive Brazilian flavor at the club now as the talents of superstars Paulinho and Robinho have been quickly snapped up by the World Cup-winning manager as he plots to further the reach of China’s top club across Asia and beyond.
“This is a successful club and we want that success to continue,” said Scolari.
“That’s why we have recruited players we know can help us improve and the Brazilian style of these two players bring with them will do that,” added the man who guided Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002.
Paulinho has already made a positive impression on Guangzhou fans since the 26-year-old midfielder signed for the club on June 29 as a 14 million euro (US$15.2 million) recruit from Tottenham Hotspur after two seasons with the London club.
Fans got their first taste of Robinho’s distinctive style last night when the 31-year-old former Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan frontman took to the pitch against Bayern Munich in the last of the German champion’s three-match preseason tour of China.
The pair joins compatriots Ricardo Goulart, Elkeson, Alan Carvalho and Rene Junior at Guangzhou, winner of the past four Chinese Super League titles as well as the Asian Champions League in 2013.
Robinho only jetted into China on Tuesday, arriving on a free transfer from Santos, and Scolari said the striker will improve more as he gets back up to match fitness.
“He has a job to play here and I know what he is capable of. The players here can learn from him,” said Scolari, who left the player out of his Brazil squad for the 2014 World Cup when his side was humiliated 1-7 in the semifinal by a Germany side containing several Bayern players.
Scolari’s signings are yet another indication of the financial clout now wielded by clubs plying their trade in the CSL where Evergrande averages more than 40,000 supporters per home match at its Tianhe Stadium.
This season alone has seen the likes of international stars Tim Cahill (Shanghai Greenland Shenhua), Demba Ba (Shenhua) and Asamoah Gyan (Shanghai SIPG) arrive in China on lucrative deals involving tens of millions of dollars.
Scolari was a shock replacement at Guangzhou last month for former Italy World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, who left by “mutual consent” just 23 games into the season and with his side top of the table. Seven games into his own tenure here and the Brazilian likes what he is seeing.
“It has been a new challenge for me but a good challenge so far and the players are happy that I am here,” said Scolari, whose team is currently second in the CSL and into the quarterfinals of this year’s Asian Champions League.
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