Kaka has shared his thoughts on how the pathway for young Brazilian players is changing in today’s game, as he used former Leeds United star, Raphinha, as an example.
One of the great players to have donned a football shirt, Kaka started his career at Sao Paulo, before working his stunning ball-carrying magic to the likes of Real Madrid and AC Milan, including winning the Ballon d’Or.
Whilst Kaka repped one side of Spain in Real Madrid, Raphinha is now representing Barcelona.
But it wasn’t before his fruitful spell at Leeds United, under the no-nonsense and 100-miles-per-hour tactics of the Elland Road legendary figure, Marcelo Bielsa, that helped him to that move via his first-ever club in Brazil side Avai.
For Kaka, he thinks players like Raphinha are proof of how they would make a name for themselves at one European club, before going on to play for a ‘big club’ now at Camp Nou, as he told beIN SPORTS (27/11/22 at 9:15 pm).
“Right now, in Brazil, it changes a little bit because most of the players before we use it to go to the first team at the age of 17 or 18,” said Kaka. “Then, for at least three years in the first team, then move to Europe. This was the pathway.
“Today, with the other markets, a lot of things change. A lot of players are going out at 15 or 16, so a lot of them are growing outside of the country. It changed a little bit. At the age of 17 or 18, it’s really hard to understand what’s going to happen. Between 18 and 23, I think this is a key age to move to Europe and to understand if this guy going to do that.
On whether young Brazil players pick certain leagues in Europe or clubs: “We are seeing now, a lot of Brazilians going to another club, before going to a big club.
“So, Raphinha was playing in Leeds. Then he went to Barcelona. Antony was at Ajax, then he went to Manchester United.”
RAPHINHA AT THE WORLD CUP
The 25-year-old was still at Leeds when he first donned the colours of Brazil and he is only growing on the international stage as a player.
From his 12 matches, he has five goals, including supplying two assists and starting Tite’s first two World Cup matches in Qatar.
The South American giants, who are one of the pre-World Cup favourites, are already through to the knockout stages after winning their opening two matches.
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