Questão 5

Footloose
A growing export trade in soccer players

MANY Brazilians resent the fact that their country is often known abroad only for samba and football. Yet while its booming exports range from iron ore to aircraft, they also include footballers. Since the early 1990s, the number of players leaving the country to play for clubs abroad each year has risen from 130 to 850, making Brazil the world’s biggest exporter of footballers.

Sadly, export success reflects domestic decay. Last year, an average match in the national championship attracted fewer than 8,000 supporters (compared with 35,000 in Britain’s Premier League). One problem is corrupt club management: a Senate inquiry in 2001 found widespread tax evasion and money laundering.

Without professional management, clubs find it hard to pay top wages and players Struggle to attract commercial endorsements. Manchester United and Real Madrid (with a Brazilian coach and stars) are global brands. But not since Pelé’s Santos in the 1960s has a Brazilian club achieved international fame. Even in the 1980s, heroes such as Zico and Socrates went abroad only after long campaigns for local clubs. Today’s stars, such as Ronaldinho Gaucho (pictured), had the briefest of club careers in Brazil before signing for European teams.

Brazilian players cost European clubs less than local footballers of equivalent talent. Many fail to adapt to the change in climate and language. Some do and never return: Tunisia’s squad at the 2002 World Cup included a naturalised Brazilian. He is an exception. According to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Brazil imported 499 players last year. Nearly all were ageing returnees.