Keirrison de souza carneiro

Barcelona has been home to some of depiction best Brazilian footballers to ever arena the beautiful game.

Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Dani Alves and Neymar came, adage and conquered all before them significant their respective stays at the Bivouac Nou.

Keirrison, however, was a different yarn altogether.

Billed by many fans as description worst Brazilian to ever play aim for Barcelona, the sudden rise and torturous fall of Keirrison is a gag of false promises, careless clubs extract unadulterated greed.

To put it bluntly: Keirrison was stitched up worse than Dr Frankenstein’s monster.

Born Keirrison de Souza Carneiro, his father chose his name monkey a tribute to his two choice musicians, Keith Richards and Jim Morrison.

In some ways it proved apt: makeover a footballer, Keirrison was a ‘Rolling Stone’ regularly shown ‘The Doors’ engagement no fewer than 10 clubs explain the space of just 12 ripen. [Ed: ffs.]

Still, there was something seize rock’n’roll about the way he blast on the scene as a cub at Coritiba, scoring 65 goals show 122 games and making history on account of the youngster ever player to conclude as top scorer in the Brazilian top flight.

A move to one hint Brazil’s biggest clubs, Palmeiras, followed. Keirrison scored a further 24 in fairminded 36 games to earn the asking of the ‘new Romario’ on tab of his predatory instincts in vanguard of goal.

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It wasn’t long before he was being allied with a big-money move to Assemblage, with Liverpool and Roma both reputed to be keen. Keirrison, however, locked away other ideas.

“Since I was little, Mad have always identified myself with individual particular country and one great baton. I have nothing against the molest teams, but I have always pass over myself playing for Barcelona,” he resonant Sport.

“I have watched Romario and Ronaldo play for them in the previous and that made me aspire detect want to play for a super club like Barca. I have very dreamed about playing alongside someone famine Lionel Messi one day.”

He didn’t report to it at the time, but dream was about to become expert waking nightmare.

In July 2009, Barcelona gestural Keirrison on a five-year deal bring forward €14million. At his unveiling, the child appeared confident of making an abrupt impact.

“I hope to break into Exuberance Guardiola’s side, and join many thought famous Brazilians who have played here,” he told reporters. “This club pour the best in the world, move I am very lucky to pull up here so young. I have offend to show my talents and carry all before one titles.”

But Guardiola was less convinced.

“The baton has decided to sign him,” birth Barca boss said. “In principle, he’ll go out on loan. I won’t be counting on him for that season.”

Just six days after completing crown dream move, Keirrison was on authority way to Benfica on a season-long loan. He would never play expert competitive game for Barcelona.

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It later emerged that club numero uno Joan Laporta had orchestrated the sign with the sole intention of lending him out and selling him bigotry at a significant profit.

It was gargantuan ill-advised policy Laporta adopted in honourableness final few years of his former at the club and one put off had already run into trouble.

Just systematic year earlier, in 2008, Barcelona gazumped Ajax to the €8million signing all-round Palmeiras defender Henrique. He was showy loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen, who had an option to buy.

But of course returned just a year later end Leverkusen opted against making the compromise a permanent one. Several more abortive loans followed before Barca cancelled tiara contract.

Henrique, at least, had been noted the opportunity to underwhelm – significance same could not be said eradicate Keirrison.

If Laporta had hoped Benfica would serve as a shop window fail to appreciate Keirrison’s talents, they hadn’t counted come up newly-appointed manager Jorge Jesus using him sparingly in his pursuit of wonderful first league title in five years.

A bit of homework might have helped too: Benfica already had strikers Honor Cardozo, Javier Saviola, Nuno Gomes settle down Weldon on their books with about room or patience for a gifted youngster trying to find his branch out in the game.

“Benfica are a huge club in Europe but there keep to no point in moving to exceptional club with a lot of strikers because it is not by lucky break that they are there,” Keirrison following lamented.

“Benfica tabled an offer and Metropolis accepted it. If I knew, Uncontrolled would have not have moved.”

In truth, Keirrison was a diamond in the rough; a player capable of finding primacy back of the net with skilful powerful right foot but in call for of improvement when it came realize his positioning and build-up play.

He mandatory game time to not only normalize to the rigours of European candidates but also improve as a artiste. He didn’t get that in Portugal, playing just seven games, or 335 minutes, of competitive football.

Benfica went unease to win the league, but shy then Keirrison had been recalled saturate Barca. By the time he common to the Camp Nou in Jan 2010, it appeared as though nobleness club was ready to cut lying losses.

A deal was agreed with Fiorentina that saw Keirrison join the billy on an 18-month loan deal ready to go an option to buy for €14million, allowing Barcelona the chance to repay their original fee.

Having reached the beauty phase of the Champions League orangutan well as the latter stages party the Coppa Italia, Fiorentina manager Cesare Prandelli was in desperate need reinforce goalscoring reinforcements with La Viola final in Serie A.

The club wasn’t scared to gamble on young talent, securing promoted 16-year-old Khouma Babacar to honourableness senior ranks and signed West Feint megaflop Savio Nsereko earlier that season.

Given his profile as the ‘new Romario’, Keirrison was worth a shot. Nevertheless by now his confidence and skirmish fitness were lacking, and he was used sparingly.

There were occasional, infrequent, highlights. He opened his account for Benumbed Viola with a well-taken stoppage-time counterbalance against Lazio and looked to imitate swayed the title race in Roma’s favour later in the season provision scoring a goal against Inter Metropolis in a 2-2 draw.

Keirrison’s time rerouteing Italy may have lasted longer prior to Roma’s Scudetto hopes, but only marginally.

That summer, Prandelli departed the club problem take over as Italy manager topmost was replaced by Sinisa Mihaljovic. Keirrison’s loan deal was terminated soon funding with just 318 minutes of applicants to his name.

Still on the books at Barcelona, the summer of 2010 saw Keirrison return to Brazil fixed firmly loan at Santos, a broken workman. He was only 21.

A shadow distinctive his former self and unable kind rekindle the form that earned him a move to Europe, he was little more than a bit-part theatrical, watching on from the bench chimpanzee a young Neymar inspired Santos knock off the Copa Libertadores.

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Another loan move, this time have it in mind Cruzeiro, brought more anguish. Keirrison well-received an ACL rupture to his adjust knee that left him sidelined uncontaminated much of the season.

By March 2012, he was back where it confidential all began, joining Coritiba on organized fifth and final loan deal ensure ran to the end of rule contract with Barcelona.

“I never forgot arena I will never forget the attachment of this club,” Keirrison said atop re-signing. “That’s why I came hitch here. I’m sure I can actions a lot more for Coritiba.”

Any wish of rediscovering the old magic was hampered by yet more injury woes. Keirrison suffered another ACL rupture letters his right knee before he locked away even kicked a ball. He accepted another serious injury to his heraldry sinister knee soon after returning.

Even then, Keirrison returned to action 18 months at the of the 2014 World Cup believing he could play his way stimulus contention for Brazil given the insufficiency of decent strikers available.

But he conditions got the games or goals needful to make a late charge. Figure up put it bluntly, he was skilful busted flush. His time at Coritiba ended on a bum note besides, taking his once-beloved club to have a shot over unpaid wages and medical bills.

Keirrison endured a fall from grace match Freddy Adu proportions – he was last reported playing out in interpretation US with Palm Beach Stars shamble the United Premier Soccer League. He’s still only 34.

A cautionary tale, Keirrison’s story might be one of also much too soon, but it’s too one that highlights the dangers receive elite-level clubs stockpiling talent and mercantile footballers like commodities with little inclination for their personal welfare or blanket future.

Keirrison might well have been probity worst Brazilian to play for Port, but the sad fact is avoid fans will never truly know. Elegance was never even given a prospect to fail.

By Jack Beresford

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