Brasileirão

After destroying Bethe Correia in 34 seconds in Brazil on Saturday night at UFC 190, Ronda Rousey is staying in the country for a holiday.

She attended her first-ever football game at the famous Maracana Stadium, where she watched Flamengo play Santos and was photographed wearing a Flamengo shirt alongside fellow UFC superstar Jose Aldo.

Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) go to the Maracana to watch soccer match and is applauded by the crowd! #GoRonda #UFC190 pic.twitter.com/hpLAtCJR9r

— Gabriel Maggiorini (@gabrieldesa_) August 2, 2015

Ronda Rousey watches soccer game at Maracana following Bethe Correia knockout http://t.co/nGX91DdGMQ pic.twitter.com/DJcPlctlzO

— Soccer Sense (@SoccerSense) August 3, 2015

While wearing Flamengo's famous colours and watching the game, she wrote on Instagram, "That moment when you realize life is great and you can eat all the hotdogs you want!!! Had a blast at my first-ever soccer game."

Flamengo have traditionally been the most popular team in Brazil, with legends Zico and Ronaldinho among their former stars.

[Twitter, Instagram] 

Brazil star Neymar is to be investigated by a court for fraud in relation to his transfer from Santos to Barcelona. 

According to Reuters, a judge has given the go-ahead for the process following a legal report filed by Brazilian investment fund DIS.

According to the piece, the company owned 40 per cent of the player’s rights prior to his move to La Liga and “alleges it was paid less than half the cash it was entitled to” after the player’s transfer. Sky News note that DIS alleges “corruption and swindling” against the player and a plethora of other key parties.

Neymar, as noted by the BBC, was said to have cost Barcelona a reported €53 million. But DIS is claiming that the sum was much higher—€83.3 million according to the aforementioned piece—and subsequently, it has been defrauded out of a substantial amount.

Incumbent Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who will stand for the presidency again at the club’s upcoming elections, his predecessor Sandro Rosell and Neymar’s father were all cited in the lawsuit, as well as Barcelona and the player himself. Santos and two of their executives have also been named as part of the investigation.

Part of the upcoming process will see the court peruse details of other bids for Neymar while he was at Santos between 2009 and 2013, including those received from Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

A date for a trial has yet to be set. According to the BBC piece, Barcelona are also already challenging the case, as are both Bartomeu and Rosell.

Neymar helped Barcelona to a historic treble last season with a string of memorable displays, winning the La Liga title, Copa del Rey and Champions League. The 23-year-old is currently skippering Brazil at the 2015 Copa America in Chile.

A week is a long time in football. Having survived the loss of four key players to international duty with minimal damage, Cruzeiro's 2-0 defeat to Sao Paulo last weekend appeared to throw the Brasileirao title race wide open once more. With their long-standing lead cut to just four points, doubts began to emerge over A Raposa's ability to retain the league title which they won with such ease last season.

By mid-week, though, the balance of power had already taken a major swing back in their direction. Having beaten Atletico-PR 2-0 on Wednesday night, Cruzeirenses were left delighted when their main rivals fell to an unexpected 3-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Coritiba.

It is their consistency against all comers that has seen Cruzeiro establish themselves comfortably as Brazil's best side over the past two years, with unparalleled depth to their squad. However, their ascent to the top is not without its challenges, and the attention their players are now attracting from national team selectors is becoming a major issue.

In coach Dunga's latest squad announced this week for fixtures with Argentina and Japan, forwards Everton Ribeiro and Ricardo Goulart were both once more called for duty with the Selecao. Trips to Beijing and Singapore are the consequence, with a further two league matches set to be affected.

With their title challenge coming under pressure from a rejuvenated Sao Paulo, to lose two key attacking players once more will hit the Minas Gerais side hard—even if their Brazil under-21 duo of Lucas Silva and Alisson have been excused from international duty this time around.

It is the absence of Sao Paulo players that is causing much consternation among fans of Cruzeiro. Much press attention is given to the Paulista side's magic attacking quartet of Kaka, Ganso, Alexandre Pato and Alan Kardec, yet none have been selected for either squad of Dunga's reign thus far. To make matters worse, Sao Paulo will face an Atletico Mineiro side deprived of forward Diego Tardelli.

Perhaps understandably given the increase in nerves caused by defeat in the top-of-the-table clash last week, Cruzeiro fans have reacted to the perceived favouritism being shown to their rivals.

As Globo Esporte reported this week (Portuguese), social media was flooded with complaints over the disparity in treatment of the two sides. Many were surprised that Brazil-based players had been included in the selection given that the league is approaching such an important stage of the campaign. The national association risks impacting the outcome of its biggest competition.

What the contention does do is bring focus back to the terrible calendar of the Brazilian season which sees sides well below full strength on a regular basis, as they seek to balance the workload that multiple competitions impose.

Players union Common Sense FC, led by former-Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva among others, carried out protests against the calendar and other concerns earlier this year as the 2002 World Cup winner himself described in The Guardian.

It is this congested nature of the playing calendar, which has to fit in state and national championships, as well as a national cup competition, which also sees league fixtures take place on weekends that have been assigned to FIFA international dates.

Until that situation changes, Brazil's football authorities will continually leave themselves open to allegations of favouritism in their selections unless they were to take what would be a hugely unpopular stance of overlooking locally based players.

Cruzeiro fans are the ones with complaints at the moment, which would only amplify were they to now lose the title race. However, it could easily be another club or multiple clubs given the plans for next season.

The CBF have taken the decision, as reported by UOL Esporte (Portuguese), to continue the league throughout next summer's Copa America, which would potentially leave clubs without stars for a month in the middle of the league season.

It is an avoidable situation which will consistently devalue the Brazilian league in the eyes of fans, sponsors and international media until it is resolved. Should Cruzeiro's form take a nosedive when their stars are away, next season's calendar may suddenly be the focus of greatly increased attention.

The rise and fall of Ganso had been one of the most intriguing storylines in Brazilian football over the past few years. An elegant No. 10 of undoubted technical quality, his dramatic loss of form and subsequent sale from Santos to Sao Paulo came as a major shock given his early rapid rise to the top of the domestic game.

For so long it had been a case of Neymar and Ganso as a double act, with the two "Meninos da Vila" from Santos identified as being key to the future of the Brazil national side.

While the former went on to star at the 2014 World Cup, sealing his status among the very best players on the planet, the latter spent his summer pondering over an improved start to the domestic season.

There had been false dawns and patches of good form before and the No. 10's state championship form prior to April had done little to suggest this was anything more than a blip in his rapid downward spiral.

Now, after 17 appearances in the Brasileirao this campaign, his resurgence has to be treated seriously.

What has helped the now Sao Paulo star is that his side have hit a purple patch in form, unbeaten in their last five following two defeats almost immediately after the World Cup.

The closest challengers to leaders Cruzeiro—albeit seven points in arrears—the Paulista giants have spent significant amounts of money to amass a squad which would be the envy of many European sides. In Alexandre Pato, Alan Kardec, Kaka and Ganso, they have a forward line that has almost immediately clicked into gear as a unit.

Kaka's arrival has been key to the side's upturn, with the side winning all four games in which he has featured since an opening defeat to Goias. In the five games since he arrived, Ganso has contributed two goals and three assists.

Suddenly, the 24-year-old appears an entirely different proposition. With confidence flowing through his veins once more, he is a constant threat and is beginning to control games with authority once more.

In 17 games, he has scored four goals and provided seven assists, per WhoScored.com statistics. There are few more dangerous players in the league at present, and his confidence was visible in his sensational goal scored against Santos on the weekend.

At his best with Santos, Ganso was both a creator and an organiser. He was able to dictate play from the No. 10 position and bring the best out of the likes of Robinho, Neymar and Andre around him.

Two major injuries, though, took their toll, and his form suffered in the wake of a triumphant return in helping Santos win the 2011 Copa Libertadores. Once seen as a shoo-in for the Olympic Games the following year, with manager Mano Menezes having touted him as key to his plans with the selecao, he was dropped following one abject display too many. Oscar was now the golden boy of Brazil's attacking midfield.

Even when at the top of his game, there were doubts as to Ganso's long-term viability as a No. 10 in European football or at the international level. He is heavily biased to his left foot and lacks speed. If not at his best, he can look ponderous.

Ganso, though, has been reluctant to consider a role deeper in the midfield where his passing range could perhaps be used to full effect anywhere in world football. Even when benched at Sao Paulo and seemingly set to disappoint once more, he has remained convinced that his future was in a central-playmaking berth.

His faith has perhaps now been justified. Following his sustained good form, there are now mutterings of a potential return to the Brazil setup and a perfect opportunity to stake a claim under new head coach Dunga.

Of course, a sustained run of form over the course of an entire season or more is required before Ganso will be considered a viable option for European sides. The Brazil national team, too, will likely demand a similar demonstration of ability before they consider him for inclusion given the alternatives available.

Few, though, have expected Ganso to return to quite the form he is in at the present time and, while he has a long way to go, he is too young to write off in the long run regarding a role in the national team.

If he can stay fit and continue to demonstrate the talents that once saw him regarded as a leading young talent anywhere in world football, Brazil will be delighted to welcome him back into the fray.

With his languid style of play harking back to the great playmakers of years gone by, Ganso will always have his supporters in Brazil. Keep performing to such standards, and they will quickly become more vocal in their backing.

The onus is now on Ganso to prove that he is back where he belongs.

This past weekend, the Campeonato Brasileiro, Brazil's national league championship, kicked off. But you would be forgiven if the occasion passed you by, even if you were in this corner of the world.

For the vast majority of football fans, there is nothing else like Opening Season Day. The enforced break from routine, allowing expectations to build to a crescendo before the curtain is lifted on another year of, usually, dented dreams.

But thanks to the hectic organisation of domestic football by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), fans of clubs across the country are routinely robbed of that hopeful scenario: a chance to hope.

The weekend prior to the Brasileiro saw the finals of various state championships. In truth, they are an outdated concept.

Brazil has had a national league since 1970, yet there remains a place in the calendar for these local nonentities, where the country's biggest clubs are forced to trek around for four months playing mismatched contests on terrible pitches.

Part of the Bom Senso movement in Brazil, a player protest against the ludicrously long football calendar, which lasts eleven months as opposed to nine in Europe, has targeted the state championships as a competition that must be shortened, as reported by UOL Esporte (link in Portuguese).

The Brasileiro first round held, on paper at least, some enticing fixtures. Sao Paulo v Botafogo and Atletico Mineiro v Corinthians were the pick of the bunch.

But the latter ended in a drab, goalless draw whilst Botafogo, following the dismissal of coach Eduardo Hungaro for disappointing Campeonato Carioca and Copa Libertadores campaigns, were overcome 3-0 in a one-sided contest.

And therein lies the problem. It is not simply a case of slating state championships.

There are an enormous amount of games played throughout the year, taking the shine and gloss away from what should be the centrepiece for national domestic football.

The Brasileiro is sometimes feted for its number of title contenders. There are a collection of six to 10 clubs that may start the season with genuine aspirations of winning the title.

But can that be looked on as an overriding factor for the league's entertainment value? Clubs selling off top assets midway through a campaign means squad lists are constantly chopping and changing, often for the worse, seriously harming the quality of the football on display.

Rarely has there been a dominant force on the club scene for more than a couple of years. Only Sao Paulo, which, between 2006 and 2008 won three consecutive titles, can have any claim to a form of long-term superiority.

To complicate matters further, this year there is one more tournament for the Brasileiro to contend with. The FIFA World Cup will be held from June 12–July 13.

During that time, the national league will take a five-week hiatus. That means an enormous backlog of games come the second half of the season, leaving players susceptible to long-term injuries as they put their bodies through the mill in a desperate bid to complete the calendar.

In stark contrast to the World Cup, attendances at stadiums are disappointingly low. Last weekend, just two matches attracted crowds of over 35,000; Fluminense v Figueirense at the Maracana and Sao Paulo v Botafogo.

Fluminense were selling tickets for as little as $5, which enticed supporters, but one problem fans may find post-World Cup is massively hiked prices in expensive new arenas.

Some measures are being taken to ensure stadiums do not become white elephants. Flamengo took their home game against Goias from Rio all the way to Brasilia, a relative footballing backwater. It is a move that destroys the notion of home advantage.

Thanks to the World Cup, this year's Brasileiro has become even more of a jumbled card pack, jamming in fixtures where necessary to ensure 38 matches are played by the beginning of December.

But as the season begins in earnest, defending champions Cruzeiro, city rivals Atletico Mineiro, last year's runners-up Gremio, Rio club Fluminense or Paulistas Sao Paulo and Corinthians all go into the latest campaign believing a title win is not beyond them.

Having such a varied cast of potential champions can make for hugely competitive finales. But it remains a great shame such drama must come at the expense of a better-structured tournament that benefits players, clubs and fans alike.

Last week was one of the worst in recent memory for Brazilian clubs in the Copa Libertadores. Rio de Janeiro outfits Flamengo and Botafogo, as well as Atletico Paranaense, all fell at the group stage of the continental competition.

But whilst it may have been a night of shame for three of Brazil's entrants, there was a silver lining for one forward.

Former Internazionale and Brazil star Adriano scored his first goal in over two years in Atletico's 2-1 defeat to The Strongest of Bolivia.

Levelling in first-half injury time, he briefly gave the club hope of progressing in the tournament, only for it to be dashed after the interval. For the player himself, however, it was hope that he can turn the corner for what must undoubtedly be the nightcap in his last-chance saloon.

His most recent previous strike had come on February 25 in the Sao Paulo state championship, while playing for Corinthians. Despite the club winning the league title during his spell there, his marriage to the Paulista club was not a happy one.

It is a theme that has unfortunately repeated itself throughout his checkered career.

The look of delight on his face as he tapped home told more than any words could. For the 32-year-old, it has been a long journey back to the football pitch that at times never looked like he would complete.

For a man of such abundant talent, Adriano's career has been far more about the downs than the ups. Since winning the 2009 Campeonato Brasileiro with Flamengo and lifting the Golden Boot with 19 goals, it appeared the striker—once considered one of the most dangerous and formidable on the planet—had put his demons behind him.

He had even battled his way back into the international reckoning. Dunga picked him for Brazil's friendly with Ireland in February 2010, but before the main event that summer he was already on the descent again.

A disastrous spell at Italian club AS Roma, where he failed to find the back of the net, saw him back in his homeland within a year.

Adriano and Flamengo seemed a natural fit, but the proposed transfer was vetoed by then-coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo. Instead, he found himself at Corinthians, where bad luck played a pivotal part in his downhill slide.

Just weeks after signing with the club, he snapped an Achilles tendon and was ruled out for over five months. During Corinthians' run to the 2011 Brasileiro title, the Imperador made just four appearances, scoring a solitary goal.

After parting ways following another miserable year, he was finally given another crack at Flamengo. This time, the club was cautious.

His contract was dependent on matches played. Adriano never managed a game.

At this late stage in his career, following injuries, drinking binges and controversies galore, it would take a brave club to take a punt on a washed-up forward. Atletico Paranaense have taken that chance.

The club were the surprise package of last year's Brazilian league. They finished third, which qualified the side for their run in the Copa Libertadores.

The signing of Adriano has, regrettably, not worked out. After missing training on two occasions the club rescinded his contract, meaning the former international is now out in the wilderness once more.

Now, whatever happens from here, however much of a success the forward manages to carve out of the embers of his once-burning fire, it must surely grate that his chances of pulling on the yellow shirt of the Selecao have already been reduced to cinders.

It is a bitter irony that now, at the helm of the national ship, is a coach whose favoured style would suit a player of Adriano's attributes perfectly. Luiz Felipe Scolari loves a target man, and right now that position is in the hands of Fluminense forward Fred.

But would a fully fit Adriano, a man who had fought off his demons and used the momentum of that 2009 Brasileiro success with Flamengo to relaunch his career, find a place in the starting line-up of the most important World Cup for Brazilians in over 60 years?

 The grim reality is we will never know. However, his own waste may also be Brazil's loss.

Atletico Mineiro president Alexander Kalil announced the signing of former France forward Nicolas Anelka on Twitter last Sunday night. Despite the 35-year-old being almost hounded out of England following his “quennelle” gesture at the end of December, the arrival of a player of his calibre is an encouraging move for the reigning Libertadores champions.

Anelka is a striker of international renown. He has spent time at some of the biggest clubs on the planet and has appeared in one World Cup and two European Championships.

His last two outings in domestic football, an ill-advised jaunt to China with Shanghai Shenhua and a disastrous spell in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion, may have irreparably damaged his reputation in Europe. But the former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea striker can nevertheless add to the Brazilian club's attacking repertoire.

Already boasting the likes of Ronaldinho, Jo, Diego Tardelli and Fernandinho, Anelka's predatory instincts may force coach Paulo Autuori to switch from his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.

Selecao striker Jo spearheads the offensive quarter with his three teammates playing off him, Tardelli in particular, getting forward whenever possible.

Jo was the leading scorer in last year's Copa Libertadores with seven goals; Tardelli was second on the list with six. The latter is the player who has lent the most support to Jo as a loan frontman, both under Cuca last year and now under Autuori's stewardship.

The signing of Anelka gives the current boss options, however. He opens up the possibility of playing a more conventional 4-4-2, or in Brazil, what is more likely to resemble a 4-2-2-2 with four offensive-minded players slotted into formation.

Anelka has already experienced playing alongside Atletico's biggest draw, Ronaldinho. The pair were at Paris Saint-German together in 2001 and 2002.

And according to Globo Esporte (via World Soccer Talk), part of the attraction of joining the Belo Horizonte outfit was a reunion with the two-time World Player of the Year.

Now in the twilight of their careers, Ronaldinho has recovered after a turbulent spell at Rio de Janeiro outfit Flamengo. As for the Frenchman, Anelka has the chance to go after South American silverware, notably, Atletico's bid to defend their Libertadores title in what for him is undiscovered territory.

Atletico have successfully negotiated their passage to the knock-out phase of the Copa Libertadores. No side have won successive titles since Boca Juniors in 2000 and 2001. Anelka arrives with a fresh challenge to overcome.

Whether he will be available to play immediately remains to be seen. He was handed a five-game suspension by the English Football Association for the “quennelle” gesture he made at Upton Park during the West Ham versus West Brom match at Upton Park on December 28, as reported by The Guardian.

When he does manage to make it onto a pitch, his experience, sharp movement and attacking prowess could be fundamental for the Minas club. He may not be the world-class prospect of five or six years ago, but his pace and ability in front of goal will add fuel to the entertaining, swashbuckling Atletico fire.

But where to fit him in?

If it is accepted that Anelka and Ronaldinho are to play together, that leaves Jo, Tardelli and Fernandinho vying for two spots.

Jo and Tardelli are enjoying a fruitful understanding in attack, meaning the player most under pressure is tricky winger Fernandinho. But omitting the 28-year-old would invariably result in a change of approach.

Anelka has form playing down the channels. He did so at Chelsea with Didier Drogba in a more central role.

And whilst the pace of the game in this corner of the world is slower, testament to the fact Ronaldinho has managed to prolong his career, wide players need to track back against full-backs unafraid to surge forward.

Whether Anelka still has the lungs for that kind of work is questionable, which will probably lead to a central striking role alongside Jo.

As a player who can be frustratingly inconsistent in front of goal, the former France international is the kind of experienced forward the Brazil international can learn from as he moves into the second half of his career.

Arriving at Atletico Mineiro, his 12^th club across seven countries, it might seem baffling that Anelka, for all his talent, still has something to prove. His baggage is well documented, but after an unhappy year, he has the opportunity to demonstrate he is far from washed up.

Brazil is a clean slate. Atletico can be his saving grace.

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

It will be more than a month before Alexandre Pato plays his next match of football—an eternity for the striker given his woeful start to 2014 and already diminished chances of representing his country at the upcoming World Cup.

On Wednesday, as reported by Globo Esporte (h/t Sambafoot), the former AC Milan forward was packaged off to Sao Paulo on two year’s loan. Given his four appearances for Corinthians during the ongoing state championship (the threshold is three), he will have only the Copa do Brasil to contest between now and the April commencement of the Brasileiro.

That’s a maximum of four matches for Pato, who was always going to be on the fringes of the Brazil squad before his trip to competitive purgatory.

Swapping sides with the 24-year-old is Jadson, who won six Ukrainian titles and the 2009 UEFA Cup during a successful six years at Shakhtar Donetsk. The midfielder will be eligible to represent Corinthians straight away, and given his good relationship with Mano Menezes, he will no doubt be given a chance to stake a quick claim to a first-team place.

It was Menezes, after all, who first called Jadson into the Brazil setup. While the 30-year-old fell out of favour at Sao Paulo following the September appointment of Muricy Ramalho, his arrival will only help a Corinthians side desperate for anything resembling creativity in the centre of the park.

As a result of the added playing time, his own World Cup hopes have been given some fresh, if not faint, hope. Brazil are not short of midfielders, and it would likely take injuries to a handful of them for Jadson to earn a ninth cap.

Still, he’s in a better position than Pato, whose €15 million move from the San Siro in 2013 proved to be little more than a very expensive disappointment.

An underwhelming start to his Corinthians career in last season’s Paulista tournament was followed by even more frequent displays of nonchalance during the league campaign, in which he started just 17 of the 30 matches he played.

At times he appeared disinterested; at others, lazy. But all the while, he cut a figure of a high-priced mercenary without the slightest interest in his teammates, who reacted by playing pranks on him.

It all came to a head last Saturday.

Upset with Corinthians’ recent form, and that of Pato in particular, a mob of angry fans cut through the fence at the club’s training facility and proceeded to harass the players.

A club medic, who was at the facility, later referred to the incident as a “prison riot,” as per ESPNFC. Pato’s agent subsequently claimed his client no longer felt safe at the club and would welcome a change of scenery, according to the Associated Press (h/t Sports Illustrated).

(Incidentally, World Cup winner Roberto Carlos quit Corinthians in 2011 because of threats made against his family.)

But if Sao Paulo represents a fresh start for Pato, it will certainly be a gradual one.

He has little to do ahead of a March 12 Copa match away to fourth division Centro Sportivo Alagoano other than train. Unless he tears the Brasileiro apart in the few matches before Brazil boss Luis Felipe Scolari names his World Cup squad, it would seem his international career is in similar limbo.

This is how bad it’s become for Pato: He’s being paid to not play.

Follow @jerradpeters