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Published: Friday July 10, 2009 MYT 12:28:00 PM

Latin America good hunting ground to hire talented football players

MEXICO CITY: It's time again to bone up on Spanish and Portuguese, particularly if you're a fan of the English Premier League or any of the other big - and not so big - leagues across Europe.

Players are coming your way soon from leagues in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.

Nowhere is more flush with talent than Brazil, where the national football confederation has 1,176 Brazilian players signed contract with clubs across the globe in 2008.

Remember this name - Keirrison de Souza Carneiro, or simply Keirrison.

The 20-year-old Brazilian striker is the latest one-name wonder.

He scored 12 goals in his first 14 games with Brazilian club Palmeiras, which prompted him to leave the club in June and start talks with Champions League winner Barcelona.

His departure partly caused the dismissal of coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who criticized the player's attitude for leaving without notifying him.

High profile club like Barcelona aren't alone tapping into the Latin connection. Coaches like Steve Bruce at Premier League club Sunderland and Alex McLeish, the Scot who heads newly promoted Birmingham City, have been working the region in the off-season.

McLeish has signed Ecuadorean forward Christian Benitez from Mexican club Santos for an undisclosed fee thought to be a Birmingham City club record of 6.5 million pounds ($10.4 million).

Bruce, in his previous coaching job at Wigan, signed Honduran midfielder Wilson Palicios and sold him earlier this year to Tottenham for a reported 14 million pounds ($22 million) - a tidy profit.

Bruce is now reported set to sign Paraguayan defender Paulo da Silva on a free transfer from Mexican club Toluca.

Few places are further away from Latin America than England's gritty, northern cities of Wigan or Sunderland, so there are risks. And also rewards.

"It can take them (players) six months to get used to the food, the weather and the way of life over here, never mind the football," Bruce said.

"But there are some good players out there and I don't mind a bit of traveling to find them."

Here's a look at some players who may pop up this year in Europe.

BRAZIL - Having lost Keirrison, Palmeiras also may lose midfielder Diego Souza, who has been the team's top playmaker since Chile's Jorge Valdivia left the club last year.

He's only 17, but Neymar - the full name is Neymar da Silva Santos Junior - is another Brazilian being sought by European clubs.

He's already billed as the next Robinho.

Neymar's contract with Santos goes until 2014, and it has a $40 million buyout clause, but it has not kept clubs from coming after his skills.

Neymar made his professional debut with Santos earlier this year and has been a regular starter since then.

Corinthians, which recently won the traditional Sao Paulo state championship and the Brazilian Cup, could have several of its players leave, including midfielder Elias, defender Chicao, goalkeeper Felipe and left back Andre Santos.

Andre Santos was one of the few players from Brazilian clubs who played for Brazil in last month's Confederations Cup in South Africa. Most were from European clubs.

He was called up for the first time to Brazil's national team in May and needed only one match as a starter to secure his spot in coach Dunga's lineup, including the final against the United States.

He's reportedly being sought by teams such as Inter Milan and AS Roma.

Midfielder Ramires of Cruzeiro is another member of the Brazilian team that won the Confederations Cup.

The 22-year-old has reached a deal to play for Portugal's Benfica and will leave after Cruzeiro plays the second-leg final of the Copa Libertadores on July 15 against Argentina's Estudiantes.

Cruzeiro may also lose striker Kleber, a former Dynamo Kiev player, who is touted to move to England's Liverpool.

Gremio, eliminated by Cruzeiro in the semifinal of the Copa Libertadores, could lose goalkeeper Victor and defender Rever, who are reportedly being sought by Italian clubs.

Victor was Brazil's third goalkeeper in the Confederations Cup.

Defending champion Sao Paulo is another club that may see several players leave, including defender Miranda, who also played with Brazil in South Africa.

He is linked in a to a move to AC Milan.

Sao Paulo already lost defender Rodrigo to Dynamo Kiev, and striker Dagoberto and midfielders Hernanes, Hugo and Jorge Wagner also may be on their way out.

Flamengo, Brazil's most popular club, is about to see striker Ibson and defender Juan leave the club.

ARGENTINA - There's not as much young talent as usual coming out of Argentina.

The country failed to qualify for the under-20 World Cup in Egypt, and Argentina's two top clubs - Boca Juniors and River Plate - are coming off horrible seasons.

Players like Fernando Gago (Boca to Real Madrid) and Gonzalo Higuain (River to Real Madrid) have not surfaced, much less talent like Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez or Sergio Agureo.

Still, there are a few players to watch. Franco Zuculini, only 18, has already moved for Racing Club to German club Hoffenheim on a transfer reported at $6.7 million.

Racing will reportedly receive 15 percent on any future transfer.

He has played 39 games since his debut in 2008 and has scored one goal.

Zuculini is called the "Big Head" by fans because of his fearless play using his head - and feet.

Several Spanish and Italian teams are looking at 21-year-old defender Nicolas Otamendi, who plays with season champion Velez.

Spain's Villarreal and Sevilla are reported to be interested, as are AC Milan and Inter Milan.

"It doesn't matter what European league I play in, but Spain and Italy are impressive," Otamendi said.

"But right now my dream is the World Cup."

Forward Javier Pastore of Huracan is attracting attention, particularly from Italian club Palermo.

Pastore, 20, models himself after Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who plays at Inter Milan.

Ibrahimovic has been linked in a move to Barcelona.

"I resemble Ibrahimovic," Pastore said.

"We're both tall, we both have long hair and we have similar styles of play."

Another to watch is 20-year-old striker Eduardo Salvio, who plays for Lanus.

He's not a natural goalscorer and often seems more effective as an attacking midfielder.

Argentine national coach Digeo Maradona has called him one of Argentina's "great hopes." Bayern Munich, Sevilla and Real Madrid are reported to be interested.

Others being mentioned include Huracan midfielder Matias Defederico and holding midfielder Sebastian Prediger of Colon.

MEXICO - The league draws players from all over Latin America, but six bear watching. Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa is a top young goalkeeper.

He debuted with Mexico City side Club America at 18 and was in the Mexico squad for the 2006 World Cup. Only 23, Ochoa is an athletic shot stopper who distributes the ball well and commands his defense with impressive maturity.

Manchester United once expressed interest.

More likely club now include Turkey's Galatasaray, Spain's Espanyol or French club Toulouse.

Guadalajara defender Jonny Magallon is an established Mexican international who can play at centerback or as a right-sided defender.

Quick and elegant on the ball, the 27-year-old was tipped for a move to Europe earlier this year, but injury put any potential departure on hold.

Compatriots such as Barcelona's Rafael Marquez, PSV Eindhoven's Carlos Salcido and Stuttgart's Ricardo Osorio show Mexican defenders fit in well in Europe.

He has drawn interest from Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen.

A wily Paraguyan defender, Paulo da Silva looks certain to leave Mexico club Toluca this summer after failing to sign a new contract.

England's Sunderland is reported close to signing him. Tottenham's wheeler-dealer manager Harry Redknapp is also in the chase.

Strong in the air and a tough tackler, Silva is comfortable on the ball and also offers a threat at set-pieces and corners.

Humberto Suazo of Monterrey is in the mold of other storied Chilean attackers such as former Lazio forward Marcelo Salas, and ex-Real Madrid striker Ivan Zamorano.

He's been hampered by injuries and homesickness, but he has impressive quickness and is ability with the ball is occasionally breathtaking.

Several English clubs have shown interest.

Paraguyan striker Salvador Cabanas has been a consistent goal scorer during a 10-year career in Paraguay, Chile and Mexico.

He joined Club America, Mexico's richest and best-supported club, three years ago and has scored more than 100 goals in Mexico's Primera Division.

Spain's Villarreal is a possible destination.

Mexico national team midfielder Gerardo Torrado was set to join Barcelona's Espanyol last December from Cruz Azul, but the Mexican club turned down the transfer.

He could be on the move this summer. - AP


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