Brazilian football on the rise

Brazilian football clubs are reaping the benefits of the country’s strong economy, according to Luis Paulo Rosemberg of Corinthians.

The Sao Paulo giants, who lead the 2011/12 Brazilian national championship, were linked with an audacious bid for Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez during the European off-season.

The transfer was unable to be completed before the Brazilian transfer window closed in July.

But according to Corinthians marketing director Rosemberg, the attempt to re-capture former player Tevez was a display of the league’s new-found financial muscle.

“We are much wealthier than we used to be,” Rosemberg said.

“In Corinthians for instance, four years ago, our total revenues were about 30 million dollars and this year it will be around 150 million.”

“Secondly, Brazil has changed. By changing Brazil there is much more credibility involved, the firms and corporations are much more profitable than they used to be, and also, the exchange rate has been much more favourable for Brazil.”

Another indication of Brazilian football’s strength has been the ability of Santos to retain star player Neymar, despite numerous advances from European heavyweights.

The club also acquired the services of Brazil international forward Robinho on a six-month loan from Manchester City in 2010.

“Robinho’s return was a daring move because we brought him back before signing contracts with sponsors,” Santos President Luis Alvaro Ribiero said.

“Our resistance to tempting offers by an English club in order to keep Neymar is also a new attitude.”

“We have been showing other clubs that it is possible, through creativity, serious work and organization, to keep these players here.”

“And I think it is only fair that the 190 million Brazilians may be able to see the stars who were born here playing right before their eyes.”

Rosemberg believes players will continue to leave Brazil in the future, but expects them to spend a larger proportion of their career back home.

“I believe that our clubs will be growing at a faster pace than in Europe and this will make a difference,” he said.

“But I think that for a long time we will still be exporting players because we are much better producers of talents than Europe; it’s part of our nature to play soccer. But they (players) will stay longer and will come back earlier.”