08 Sep 2018 14:09:44
Is it better long term for players from South America to go to a porto/ wolfburg/ Bilbao as opposed to a utd/ barca/ Bayer? As in they get a decent contract at the feeder club and then an even better 1, plus huge signing on fee if things go well (obviously game time would be easier to get too) . Is this method more tried and trusted now amongst the 'Maybe superstars' rather than going to a big club and trying to shine there.

{Ed002's Note - Porto takes in Brazilians as there is less of an issue with culture, language etc.. There is no chance at all of South American players going to Athletic Bilbao. Wolfsburg have Willaim on their books but do not take players from South America on a regular basis - although the did try and buy a Brazilian and a Uraguayan from European sides this summer. Manchester United tasked Javier Ribalta with improving the scouting in South America but he has now left the club and moved to Zenit St Pete. Bayern Munich tend not to have an interest in taking South American players although they did have an interest in two Brazilians this summer - but one was playing in Portugal and one in England. Barcelona are at the maximum number of players they can have with adding a Brazilian from a Brazilian club this summer - and had to move Yerry Mina on to make space. I don't really understand your question.}

1.) 08 Sep 2018
08 Sep 2018 15:25:02
Pretty sure bilbao only have basque players. With the odd exception am I right 002?

{Ed002's Note - Yes RW.}

2.) 08 Sep 2018
08 Sep 2018 15:32:15
Porto, wolfberg, and bilbao are examples of a club size. I could easily have said sporting, hamburg and deportivo. Again utd, barca and Bayern are examples of the biggest clubs.

{Ed002's Note - I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about I am afraid. Hamburg and Deportivo de La Coruna are second division sides and are don't as a rule take players from South America. Whereas the likes of Barcelona do - Athur, Neymar, Romero, Mina, Roberto.... and they have all done well.

As such I just don't get your point.}

3.) 08 Sep 2018
08 Sep 2018 16:06:00
My guess is the OP is asking about players moving to the likes of Porto because it’s maybe easier to get a work permit?

4.) 08 Sep 2018
08 Sep 2018 17:45:36
I think what the OP was asking is

"Do agents of South American players target moves to perceived medium sized European clubs as a sort of stepping stone to a larger European club? "

So as to get players settled in Europe at a club with less media attention and pressure, with the intention of getting them a deal with a larger more prestigious club a year or two down the line.

Much like how a large number of Brazilian players have found themselves at Shakhtar Donetsk before moving on to clubs like United, City or Bayern as Fred, Fernandinho and Douglas Costa have done.

{Ed002's Note - Agents hawk their players around to the wealthy higher profile clubs in the first instance. For example, Kia Joorabchian has spent the summer hawking Corinthian's 20 year old Pedrinho around European sides, initially trying to get the likes of PSG, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs to fork out €50M when he might only be worth a fraction of that. After that failed he turned to perceived gateway clubs such as Ajax, Porto and Benfica - also to no avail.

In terms of Shakhtar Donetsk, Lucescu got the ball rolling when he arrived about 15 years ago and the club has a scouting structure in Brazil second to none - where they work with clubs, agents and the Brazilian youth and junior sides to find the players early and then when they are old enough, 18, to take the best to the Ukraine. Fernandinho, Willian, Fred, Douglas Costa are all examples of players seen to be very good and taken to the Ukraine when they were between 18 and 20.}

5.) 08 Sep 2018
08 Sep 2018 17:59:04
Okay. Is it better, career wise, financially too, to struggle for game time, force your way into a squad and eventually, the starting 11 at a club like utd.

Or join a smaller club and get game time and hope for a big move (pay day) to the big clubs? (For South American's)

{Ed002's Note - The leading sides will take players they think are good enough regardless of nationality and regardless of age. But clubs have to work within certain restrictions, such as the Spanish clubs are limited to the number of players they can have who are not EU nationals or covered by the Cotonou Agreement or Kolpak ruling hence Barcelona having to move Yerry Mina on to fit in Arthur. Some countries have quotas which are game based rather than squad based (e.g. Ukraine limits non homegrown players on the pitch to seven etc.). So there is no hard and fast guidance. Barcelona moved Arthur to Spain when he did to avoid him joining a Premier League side, he was never going to end up playing in Portugal or anywhere else - Barcelona wanted him right away.}

6.) 08 Sep 2018
08 Sep 2018 18:34:10
Cheers ed, so in summery the big clubs still get first refusal (if it fits with quotas, restrictions etc. ) . But in a lot of circumstances it just works out that a spell at a smaller club proceeds a move to a larger 1.

{Ed002's Note - It is not really a first refusal, but some clubs have very good scouting set ups in South America.}