Corinthians

Brazil has a number of fiercely contested local derbies, with the majority of the country's most recognisable and successful clubs divided among just four cities.

Perhaps the most hostile of those clashes is the "Derby Paulista" which pits traditional Sao Paulo giants Corinthians and Palmeiras in direct combat.

The first clash between the two occurred in 1917, when Palmeiras were still known by their former name of Palestra Italia—an indication of the community of largely Italian immigrants who composed the club's original fanbase.

The tie has produced memorable encounters down the years, some for the quality of football and others for the incidents of fighting that have broken out between the two sides. When the giants meet, passions run high among both players and fans.

The current situation

The latest clash between the pair comes on Sunday in the 2014 Campeonato Paulista, or Sao Paulo state championship. The "estaduais," as they are known, are an important part of the Brazilian calendar, although opposition to their existence is growing.

After a couple of years of relative turmoil on and off the pitch, it is visitors Palmeiras who incredibly enter the clash as the more stable outfit. Things are not running smoothly across the city for O Timao, champions of the Club World Cup little over a year ago.

You may have read recently about the Common Sense FC, or Bom Senso FC, scheme that Brazil's footballers have combined to form, as documented in the Guardian by former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva.

Brazil's players are unhappy with many of the conditions they encounter, including frequent delays in payment of wages and the current calendar. However, the recent invasion of Corinthians' training ground by angry supporters, as reported by ESPN, has also been a major reality check for those who perhaps felt little sympathy for the players' cause.

Since that incident less than two weeks ago, several players have left Corinthians including one-time golden boy of Brazilian football Alexandre Pato and ex-Porto midfielder Ibson.

More notable, though, is the departure of captain Paulo Andre. The centre-back was not only the club's captain but also leader of the Bom Senso movement. He has left for China, citing the fans' aggression and his family's suffering as his reason for moving, per UOL (Portuguese).

Interestingly, in relation to the weekend's game, his successor as leader of the movement will be Palmeiras goalkeeper Fernando Prass.

What sparked the fan troubles? Corinthians' poor form in the state championship which is set to lead to a first-round exit isn't helping. It is a sad situation and the players will hope for a much-needed derby success in part to ease tensions.

Off the pitch, times are difficult for Brazilian football players. On the pitch, they are more united than ever.

Key battles

Fagner vs. Juninho

Two of the standout full-backs of the 2012 Brasileirao season, both have had ups and downs since but will do battle down the flanks on this occasion.

Fagner is, perhaps, the best right-back currently in Brazil and will be expected to provide a threat from his deep position. He will, though, face one of the better opponents he will encounter in the state championships.

Attacking full-backs are an important part of the composition of most Brazilian sides, and it is on the flanks that games can be won or lost.

Felipe vs. Leandro

Paulo Andre's exit has brought benefit for one Corinthians player in the shape of replacement Felipe, who will partner the excellent Gil at centre-back.

He will be tested on this occasion by one of the younger strike partnerships at a top Brazilian club in target man Alan Kardec and the lively Leandro.

Leandro, who was briefly compared to Neymar when he first broke through at Gremio in 2011, has managed to get his career back on track over the past year and will need careful monitoring throughout the encounter.

Jadson vs. Bruno Cesar

Neither player is even guaranteed to play in the encounter, but could it be that it is a new signing that swings the tie in the favour of their respective sides?

Jadson, who arrived from Sao Paulo as part of the trade for Pato, is an experienced international who spent several years with Shakhtar Donetsk. With an eye for a through ball and excellent technique, he will add much attacking quality to the Corinthians side.

Bruno Cesar, meanwhile, is a former Corinthians player who has recently returned from a spell in the Middle East. Another high-level attacking midfielder for domestic football in Brazil, he has a knack for scoring goals and could be a useful option off the bench.

Expected lineups

Over the past few days, as the eventual €15 million transfer of striker Alexandre Pato to Corinthians (Daily Mail) drew near, social networks have been awash with talk of a career wasted in return to South America. It is a view, though, that is not only disrespectful to the Brazilian league, but that also shows a lack of awareness of the changing dynamics of world football. 

To say that Pato “failed” at AC Milan would be a harsh assessment, but given initial predictions as to his impact, it is fair to say that expectations have not been met. Pato has been hamstrung by injuries over his latter years in Italy and, unfortunately, that situation has shown few signs of improving. 

So, with Milan choosing to cut their losses, Pato returns to Brazil with much to prove. Corinthians have made a significant investment in the Seleção star—the biggest in the history of Brazilian football (UOL)—and will be desperate to see a return on their money. Should they get him fit and firing, Pato could well be the catalyst for a sustained period of success for the Timão. 

So, what of Pato himself? How can he benefit from a return to Brazil? Well, firstly, could the return to his homeland help him overcome his injury problems for good?

The famed “Milan Lab” has seen its reputation take a battering in recent years, and there is a growing feeling that Brazil's experts can improve his fitness record. Brazilian clubs have proven themselves to be adept at dealing with injury-prone players, and there is no reason to believe that Pato, too, could not reap these benefits.

Another prophecy to emerge from among the doom merchants of the social media realm was that Pato would never be seen again at the top of the game. It's a bold statement to make about any player, but even more so a 23-year-old who is widely accepted to be one of the most talented in his position anywhere in the world.

The reality is that, by returning to Brazil, Pato could actually ensure that he does go on to achieve greatness in his career. It must be remembered that at Milan, without the Rossoneri challenging in either the league or Champions League, his visibility to the Brazil national team management was dropping rapidly.

Currently behind Leandro Damião and, in the eyes of many, Fred in the race to wear the No. 9 shirt for his country in 2014, his chances of selection are at their lowest ebb since his first emergence as an international player. By joining Corinthians, he is doing his chances a lot of good.

According to recent surveys, Corinthians have 25 million supporters in Brazil (Band), making them the second best supported team in the country. Both Flamengo and Corinthians' influence is felt right across Brazil, and both sides carry significant weight in the national media. Pato will soon arrive in São Paulo to become the undisputed star of this Corinthians side—a role that will guarantee him significant exposure for his national team claims.

He will join a team that has a recent history of success—a side that has been strengthened once more this Brazilian summer. A handful of goals in his opening state championship encounters against what are effectively non-league sides and the newspapers will doubtless be proclaiming the return of the messiah. Help Corinthians to a second consecutive Libertadores title and his presence in Brazil's starting lineup at the Confederations Cup is nigh-on guaranteed. 

Ultimately, we do not know if this is the end of Pato's journey outside Brazil. However, with the Brazilian championship at its strongest in over 20 years, there is no right or wrong either way. The Rio Branco native will be just 24 at the time of the next World Cup and will still have plenty of time on his side regarding any future deal. 

In joining Corinthians, Pato opted against taking a signing-on fee, in order to push through a transfer. Instead, the striker has negotiated that he will receive 40 percent of any future transfer fee. It is in his interests, then, to both make himself a success and to move on from the club further down the line. 

If he can get himself fit for a sustained period of time, there is little doubt Pato will succeed with Corinthians and, then, hopefully with Brazil. He has both professional and financial incentives to succeed and is safe in the knowledge that he still has many years ahead of him for a further shot at European football, should he so desire.

His Milan career was ailing badly, for whatever reason. Pato now has the perfect opportunity to start from scratch and prove himself to be the truly world-class centre-forward that he has always threatened to become. Boa sorte, Alexandre.

Today, the world is colored in black and white as Corinthians beat Chelsea with a header by Paolo Guerrero in the 69th minute to put the Brazilian club over the European representatives in Yokohama to win the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup. 

Brazilian fans, like me, may disagree with this, but the bottom line is that this title doesn't mean a lot—except that it is the second loss for Chelsea's head coach Rafa Benitez in Japan. 

Then the manager for Liverpool, Rafa Benitez lost in 2005 after the performance of a lifetime by São Paulo goalkeeper Rogério Ceni, and today after another stellar set of saves by Cassio.

There aren't a lot of things that can be extracted from this competition, but here are a few important conclusions.

Influence of Support

There is undeniable influence of support in a David vs. Goliath match. Corinthianos all around Brazil might disagree with me, but Chelsea were undoubtedly the favorites to win this match. The 22,000 Corinthian fans who made the journey to Japan, however, propelled Corinthians forward in playing a shut-down defense against both Al-Ahly and Chelsea while being committed to counter-attacks. 

The Nação Corinthiana invaded Japan like no other supporters have in the history of these intercontinental confrontations. There is massive TV audience because South Americans, generally, take this title very seriously.

Never has Japan seen an invasion by a group's supporters that varies so much. There are stories of people who sold all their homes or cars to make the extremely expensive journey around the globe. 

A New Brand of Brazilian Football

For those of you who thought that Brazilian football was all about high-flying offenses with abundantly skillful players, welcome to the new evolution of the sport: Brazilian centre-backs such as Dante, Lúcio and David Luiz are in the best leagues in the world today, like the Bundesliga and Serie A.

Also, Brazil is giving birth to more box-to-box midfielders than it used to.

Paulinho is the premier example of the new breed of midfielders coming to Brazil. He can both tackle and play defense like the best out there and, reminiscent of the early Cesc Fabregas in Arsenal, he has a quality touch and is an able passer. His best quality, much like Fabregas, is to show up and compose the attacking ranks like a false 9 when Paolo Guerrero isn't on the pitch. 

Paulinho was the biggest goal scorer for Corinthians this season. He was essential in the victory of the Copa Libertadores, and now the Club World Cup.

This shows something else Brazilian teams have taken a page from European squads and implemented in their playing style.

Corinthians, and most teams here in Brazil, are playing more of a possession game, where the field isn't spread out like it used to be. Brazilian teams used to play with quick forwards and wingers in a game that didn't need much skill from the centre-backs and the defensive midfielders. 

Now, we see a lot more one-touch plays and a lot more triangular passing. With triangular passing, the pace can be increased or diminished, allowing the whole team to advance as a whole rather than only in sections like it used to be. 

Football Marketing Revolution

This all started when Ronaldo came to play for Corinthians. Single-handedly, his presence made Corinthians a world-wide brand. He also managed, through his company 9ine, to put the Corinthians brand all over the place with MMA star Anderson Silva.

Never in Brazilian football history has a team focused so heavily on marketing schemes to help fund its actions: The team store is always bustling with customers, the construction of its new arena is underway and will be featured in the 2014 World Cup, but all these contributions take second place.

The biggest contribution to Brazilian football is that Ronaldo's return from an unlucky spell at AC Milan made the Brazilian Championship attractive to ex-pats playing in Europe and elsewhere. 

Corinthians managed to snatch up Adriano, even though he was largely absent, and now Paolo Guerrero, who wasn't tough to get. With Deco, Ronaldo and Clarence Seedorf coming over to play, the quality of the whole product has increased, and their presence lends more credibility to the whole league.

The Brazilian economic growth phase won't last for much longer, but as these players come to retire in our league, their presence should raise the overall quality of play. 

Chen Zhizhao could help improve world football as a whole, becoming the first Chinese player to sign for a South American side with his transfer to Corinthians, Brazil's most popular club.

The player, now known as "Zizao" by Brazilian fans and media, has signed on a two-season loan deal which runs out in December 2013.

Apparently, the idea to sign the player came from the club's marketing department, who are looking to boost the club's global brand.

It's a signing which may very well strengthen the sport worldwide, being something of a revolutionary transfer.

In today's global economic downturn and times of universal austerity measures—which is affecting football—clubs are looking for new ways to recruit players and raise revenue.

As they do that, they're turning to new markets, and exploring undiscovered avenues.

In Brazil's Serie A, there are only 38 foreign players among the 20 teams in the top-flight, the vast majority of whom are South American.

So with Corinthians signing a Chinese player, not only does that make them a more unique team across Brazil and South America, but it also makes them something of a global phenomenon, and suddenly a point of interest in the world's fastest growing economy.

In essence, their boldness in seeking a new market for transfers has put more attention on the club and made them more known internationally.

Therefore, they've become a more attractive outfit for sponsors and investors, with potential profits to be had in a very lucrative new market.

It's a signing that could well be more than worth its weight in gold.

And having sourced out new revenue streams, it could make Corinthians a lot more secure financially.

If the player does well and is a success in Brazil, the club would also have a greater chance to secure the pick of the talent from that area due to their past foray into that market.

So it's clearly an attractive option for a club to make—and others will surely catch onto that. 

If Chen Zhizhao is successful for Corinthians—fairly likely given his ability to stretch the play, a problem for the Serie A side last season, and his versatility—more Chinese and Asian players will also be encouraged to seek South America as an alternative to trying to secure a move to Europe.

Even if he isn't, they could still be encouraged to make the switch, given he'll be earning a very good salary.

That'll mean more players will no doubt leave the region for foreign clubs in places like South America, and will have a greater chance to develop their game.

The more players who move from poor footballing nations to strong ones, the better for football, as the universal standard in the professional game will increase.

And, of course, the more clubs who sign players from new countries, the higher their global brand equity will be, which means they'll be stronger financially—allowing for more possibility to invest in the grassroots of the game.

It's all speculation at the moment, but Zizao's transfer to Corinthians is a revolutionary step in world football, with international dealings from clubs in two of the most unlikeliest countries opening up new football markets, and creating the potential for more such transactions to take place.

Whether or not Chen Zhizhao is a success in Brazil, one crucial thing—which will make clubs across world football take note—is clear: The possibilities from this transfer are endless.

Manchester City have found themselves embroiled in one of the wildest transfer sagas of the summer, courtesy of their superstar striker Carlos Tevez. 

The 27-year-old Argentine has repeatedly expressed a desire to leave Eastlands to be closer to his family, prompting myriad bids for his services. However, a £50 million price tag has all but killed most interest in the striker's services. Sure, there were bids from Juventus, Inter Milan and Brazilian outfit Corinthians, but even the Brazilians' reported £40 million bid seemed to fall well short of the Blues' asking price.

But that all changed on Sunday night, when a Mirror Football report indicated that the Blues had agreed to a deal with the Brazilians for their superstar, although the terms of that deal weren't disclosed. In fact, manager Roberto Mancini went out of his way to confirm that a deal was in place. 

"We have an agreement with Corinthians but Carlos now is still a City player."

Asked whether Tevez would now be discussing personal terms, Mancini replied: "I don't know this. I repeat, at the moment, Carlos is still a City player."

He added: "I want to wait. At the moment we are here, we are working with the other guys. We should think about this."

At that point, the deal looked imminent. Tevez wanted to leave City, and if the Corinthians had agreed to terms with the Blues, the 27-year-old Argentine was as good as gone. He would provide a massive boost to the Brazilian club's offense, having been a 20-goal scorer in the Premiership last season, and figured to star for the club immediately, even if the price remained a bit steep.

However, it wasn't long before other reports coming from Brazil indicated that perhaps a deal wasn't done after all. According to a report from the Corinthians' website, the Brazilian club hadn't finished a deal off after all, and were still trying to negotiate terms to get the talented scorer from City. 

Per their statements (as reported by the Daily Mail):

A Corinthians statement read: 'Because of news reports this morning of an agreement between Corinthians and the striker Carlos Tevez, president Andres Sanchez is keen to clarify that Manchester City has not accepted Corinthians' offer for the player.

'In fact, the club (City) sent a counter-proposal, which, due to the time difference, has only just reached the Corinthians board this morning.

'In the counter-proposal, the Premier League club asks for changes in the form of payment and also in the total value of the transaction. 

'Finally, the president Andres Sanchez advises that there is no concrete agreement with Tevez at this time and the counter-proposal will be analysed by him and the board.'

Confused yet? Join the club. So, is Tevez bound for Brazil, or is he staying at Eastlands for the time being?

The answer is probably somewhere in between the two options at this stage of the game. If Tevez leaves City, I don't see him going anywhere but Corinthians as of now. They're the clear front-runners, and as long as they can get City to agree to terms, they'll get their superstar from the Blues. 

But at the same time, the deal isn't ready yet. Mancini said that while there was a deal in place, they were still working on the deal itself, which tells me that Tevez is likely bound for Brazil assuming the two clubs can figure out how the cash will be paid. 

Reports indicate that Corinthians want to pay the fee over four seasons in increments of £10 million per season, since they lack the full funds at this juncture. While that seems reasonable, it's clear that City want more cash more quickly than that, and are likely pushing for more money at the bargaining table. 

To me, it sounds as though the two sides know how much money City will get for the 27-year-old superstar, but the problems come in when the timeline of when that money will arrive comes into play. 

Unfortunately for Tevez and Corinthians, that means there's still plenty that can go wrong here. If City are unwilling to take an extended payment plan on this deal, it's as good as dead in the water. There's no way the Brazilians have the liquid assets necessary to get Tevez up front and they likely don't have the cash needed for two payments of £20 million either if they want to purchase anyone to put around him. 

In the end, though, it sounds like the two sides are closer to finding a mutually beneficial deal than any other club has been with City. Corinthians seem to be well on their way to getting this thing finished, and while it's far from a done deal, this is a situation that merits monitoring.

We'll likely know more in the coming days, but as of now, Tevez is very much still a member of the Blues, and one of the most compelling storylines of the summer is likely to continue for at least a few more days, if not longer.

Although it may seem as if this day has been coming for years, today world football will say goodbye to one of its greatest stars. Legendary Brazilian forward, Ronaldo de Lima, relentless scoring machine, football legend, and owner of the all-time World Cup goals record with 15, has decided that the time has finally come to end his playing career.

Though his last few years have been marred by numerous injuries, some scandalous behavior and significant criticism over his level of dedication and fitness, Ronaldo is one of the greatest that fans of the beautiful game have ever been privileged enough to witness.

Along with French legend Zinedane Zidane, Ronaldo is the only player to have won the FIFA World Player of the Year three times, taking home the prestigious honor in 1996, 1997 and 2002. He was also twice named the recipient of the Ballon D'or, awarded to the best player in Europe, during the years 1997 and 2002.

Currently a member of Brazilian Serie A club Corinthians, the 34-year-old has had enough of the constant stream of injuries he has been forced to endure in recent years, as well as the controversy surrounding his club's disastrous exit from the high-profile Copa Libertadores. Corinthians became the first Brazilian club to fail to make it beyond the preliminary round of the prestigious South American club football tournament.

Following the premature departure, there have been reports of unrest amongst supporters of the club, some of whom reportedly smashed players' cars, defaced training ground property as well as made threats toward certain players deemed responsible for the poor performance.

Ronaldo was unfortunately the target of some of the hooligan-like activity, and that likely helped finalize his decision. Prior to today, Ronaldo had already announced that he would retire at the end of the season, but recent events served to speed up the process.

Ronaldo's football career began on a much happier note than it ended. He started his professional career in 1993, when as a 16-year-old for Brazilian club Cruzeiro he made an immediate impact as a significant goal-scoring threat. His 12 goals in only 14 appearances helped to lead his club to the championship of the Copa Do Brasil.

Shortly thereafter, at 17, he was chosen to represent Brasil in the 1994 World Cup, which took place in the United States for the first time. He didn't play in that cup, but gained confidence and valuable experience which would contribute to him eventually becoming one of the greatest players in World Cup history.

After his first World Cup selection, Ronaldo moved on to a grander stage, beginning his illustrious European career with PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie. He quickly adapted to the style of football in the Netherlands, scoring  30 goals in his inaugural season.

Unfortunately, he injury woes began then too, and he missed most of his second season with a knee injury. In his two years in Holland, he amassed an astounding 42 goals in 46 appearances. 

With his star rising significantly, Ronaldo made the leap to the massive Catalan side Barcelona in Spain's La Liga. In his only season with Barcelona, he brilliantly displayed his devastating goal-scoring prowess, tallying 47 goals in 49 appearances.

During his short stay with the club, he was La Liga's leading scorer, helping Barcelona to championships in the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana. His massive contributions to La Blaugrauna's success earned him the FIFA World Player of the Year award for the 1996 calendar year.

Quickly moving on after complications with his contract negotiations, Ronaldo then transferred to Inter Milan, the team that had originally battled Barcelona for his signature when he left PSV. He became a dominant force for Inter, scoring 34 goals in 47 appearances during 1997-98. The Brazilian dynamo took home his second FIFA Player of the Year award for 1997, as well as his first Ballon D'or.

Ronaldo followed up his Inter debut with another stellar start to the 1998-99 season, tearing up Serie A with 14 goals in 19 games. Unfortunately, he tore a knee ligament in 1999, forcing him out of action for half a year. Upon his return, he instantly re-injured the knee, being forced out in his first game back After his scintillating debut season in Milan. Two knee surgeries limited him to only 52 appearances over four seasons.

Before his injury woes marred his Inter Milan career, he played a starring role in Brazil's march to the 1998 World Cup championship game. His four goals and three assists earned him the Golden Ball for the tournament, but health issues and a mid-game injury in the final led to a disappointing 3-0 defeat to France in the championship.

Toward the end of his Inter run, following his massive injury layoffs, he made a triumphant return to the Brazilian national team to spearhead their attack in the 2002 World Cup.

Recovered from his knee problems for the time being, he returned with a vengeance, earning the Golden Boot for leading all scorers with eight goals, and leading his nation to their fifth World Cup victory. This brilliant showing helped earn him his third FIFA World Player of the Year award, and his second Ballon D'or.

Following his starring role in the 2002 World Cup, Ronaldo then continued his whirlwind tour of the massive clubs on the European continent, transferring to Real Madrid for the 2002-03 season.

In his five seasons in the Spanish capital, he helped win two La Liga titles, the 2002 Intercontinental Cup, and the 2003 Supercopa de Espana. After three healthy, dominant seasons, injuries and weight issues marred his last two years in Madrid, and he eventually found himself on the move once again.

Prior to leaving Madrid, however, Ronaldo appeared in one last World Cup, the 2006 tournament in Germany. Though he was often ridiculed for his fitness levels, he still managed to score three goals, breaking Gerd Muller's all-time World Cup scoring record with 15 total goals. Ronaldo's performance was much-maligned, and Brazil was knocked out in the semifinal round.

Though he appeared to be facing difficulty staying in playing shape, Ronaldo wasn't finished yet, and made yet another transfer to a European giant, this time to AC Milan for the second half of the 2006-07 season.

He started strong, scoring in half of his appearances, but then tragedy struck, as he once again ruptured a knee ligament, ending his AC Milan career after only 20 appearances. Ronaldo scored nine goals in those 20 games, but was soon released by the club.

Facing the end to his storied career in European football, Ronaldo de Lima made his long-desired voyage home to finish his playing career in Brazil. Courting controversy by training with Flamengo to rehabilitate, before signing with their bitter rivals Corinthians, Ronaldo was once again ready to take the field.

During 2009, he scored 23 goals in 38 matches, helping lead Corinthians to the Brazilian Serie A title and the second Copa do Brasil title of his career.

His success with Corinthians faded, as he was once again visited by his recurring injury issues and problems with staying fit enough to continue playing at the high standards he had set.

From 2010 to his retirement in February 2011 he managed 31 appearances, seeing his goal return in that span fall to 12. With a difficult beginning to his 2011 season, and the devastating elimination from the 2011 Copa Libertadores, Ronaldo saw the writing on the wall and finally brought an end to an illustrious career.

Over parts of 19 seasons as a professional footballer, Ronaldo de Lima amassed an amazing 352 goals in 515 club appearances in all competitions for a .68 goals per game ratio. He developed a reputation for being one of the most ruthless finishers that modern football has seen.

As impressive as his club career was his international duty, winning two World Cups with Brazil, although he only played in one of those winning cups. During his time with Brazil, he scored 62 goals in 97 appearances, and set the all-time World Cup scoring record with 15.

He is only one of two men, along with Jurgen Klinsmann to score at least three goals in three different World Cups. In 2002, he was the Cup's leading scorer and Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

His many scoring titles, World Cup records and honors, three FIFA Player of the Year awards and two Ballon D'or titles combine to make him one of the most decorated players in modern football history.

It's rather impressive that in spite of his frequent bouts with serious injury issues, Ronaldo still managed to dazzle fans and opponents whenever his body allowed him to take the field.

Though the end was sadly disappointing, the footballing world will never forget the abundant accomplishments and contributions to the game of the brilliant Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima.