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16.07.2009 14:32
Maxwell makes it six Brazilian defenders
Jesús Carrillo
Maxwell will be the sixth Brazilian defender in FC Barcelona’s history as he follows on from Marinho, Aloisio, Juliano Belletti, Sylvinho and Dani Alves.
The former Inter star has become the 29th player from Brazil top lay for the Blaugrana and has increased the number of players from the South American country who have played in defence for the club.
Mario Marinho
In 1974, coach Rinus Michels made Mario Mariinho the first Brazilian top
lay in defence for Barça after he had impressed during the World Cup Finals in Germany in that same
year. He spent two seasons at Camp Nou after signing from Santos.
Aloisio signed by Cruyff
Johan Cruyff then looked to Brazil in 1988/89 to bolster his rearguard
as he signed Aloisio Pires from Internacional de Porto Alegre. Aloisio won the gold medal at the
Olympic Games in Seoul before moving to join the Blaugrana.He spent two season with the Blaugrana,
helping the team to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup and the Copa del Rey, before moving to
Porto in 1990.
Two full-backs
In the 2004/05 campaign, Barça signed two Brazilian defenders at the same time as Belletti and Sylvinho both joined to bolster the full-back positions. Luciano Haus Belletti signed from Villarreal after helping Brazil to win the World Cup in 2002 and wrote his name into the club’s history books by scoring the winning goal in the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal in Paris. He left Barça I 2006-07 to join Chelsea.
Sylvinho moved to FC Barcelona from Celta Vigo after the
Galician club were relegated to la Segunda A. Silvio Mendes competed with Giovanni van Bronckhorst
for the left-back spot, before Éric Abidal’s arrival. During his five-year stay at Camp Nou,
Sylvinho won three league titles, the European Cup twice and the Copa del Rey. It was his departure
at the end of last season that opened the way for Maxwell to join.
Dani Alves
Last summer FC Barcelona signed Daniel Alves from Sevilla
and he slotted into the side quickly as he helped the team to go on and win a unique treble in his
first year at the club.
José Edmílson i Henrique
Edmilson could also be included in the list of Brazilian defenders top lay for the club as he
played as a centre-back throughout his time in France with Olympique Lyonnais. But with Barça, the
player who se full name is José Edmílson I Henrique, plied his trade in the defensive midfield
position.
Another case is that of Henrique who signed for Barça last summer before being loaned to Bayer Leverkusen. He is still a member of the Catalan club, but has yet to make a first-team appearance.
Another case is that of Henrique who signed for Barça last summer before being loaned to Bayer Leverkusen. He is still a member of the Catalan club, but has yet to make a first-team appearance.
