FC Brazil

Bernardo Pires Domingues

It has become a recurring story in the past years:

– Brazilian footballer not deemed good enough for the big clubs in Italy, Spain or England ends up playing in Portugal.

– Brazilian footballer makes an impression at his Portuguese club but not enough to be called up by whoever is managing Brazil’s national side.

– Brazilian footballer is offered Portuguese citizenship so that he can join the national team, sparking a debate over the validity of the procedure.

– Eventually the Portuguese realise they are better off with the naturalised players and move on to the next target.

After Chelsea’s midfielder Deco, Real Madrid’s defender Pepe and more recently Sporting Lisbon’s striker Liedson had all made that move, it seemed fair to pose the “Would you do the same?” question to another Brazilian forward.

Porto’s Hulk ticks the first two boxes of the story above, but he is still into the second of a six-year contract after which he would be able to apply for Portuguese nationality. At the moment, though, that is far from his plans.

"Not that I don't like orange, but I wanted to be in yellow"

“My dream is to play for the Brazilian national team. That’s what I’m working for and I hope someday I’ll make that dream come true”, said the 23-year-old striker after Porto’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in London, their first Champions League group stage match this season.

If he keeps his last season form that earned him praise from Sir Alex Ferguson after a shining performance for Porto in a 2-2 draw at Manchester United for the first leg of the teams’ Champions League quarter-finals tie, Hulk may not even complete the six-year long Portugal residency he would need to obtain a passport.

There were talks of him being a potential target of English clubs during the past summer transfer window, but nothing materialised. And the Brazilian himself did not want to confirm those talks:

“There is always speculation, but I try not to listen to them that much. I’ve always tried and given the maximum effort for Porto. Now I have a contract with them, I have to work for Porto. So my thoughts are only about Porto.”

Another Brazilian and Porto player could have been thinking about wearing the Portuguese national side jersey had he not been selected for Brazil in the past.

Goalkeeper Helton has been in Portugal for seven years, four of them at Porto and has consolidated himself as the team’s first choice for the position with some solid performances as the one this Tuesday’s night at Stamford Bridge.

"Helton is ready. Helton is at his country's disposal. I'm Helton"

He pulled off some great saves even in Chelsea’s goal, when Anelka should have scored in his first attempt and was brilliantly denied by Helton only for the ball to rebound off the goalie straight on to the striker’s foot again.

Although the Porto player was a reserve during Brazil’s successful Copa América 2007 campaign, he has not been picked by manager Dunga lately. He does not know exactly why, but he does know that apart from Inter Milan’s Julio Cesar’s, goalkeeping spots in the Brazilian national squad for next year’s World Cup are still up for grabs.

He says the possibility does not give him sleepless nights. On the other hand, it offers him something to dream about while he sleeps.

“Getting to the national side is a consequence of what you do in your club. I wish the best for the national team, especially for the colleagues in my position who have been selected lately. In particular for Julio Cesar, because he’s my friend; Gomes; Doni, whom I had the opportunity to get to know a little bit. If there’s an opportunity, if they need Helton’s work, Helton will be at their disposal”, concludes the Brazilian, in a typical but heartfelt footballer’s third person remark.