The Foxes have been linked with the 25-year-old Brazilian forward this week.
Jonathan Cafu in action for Ludogorets
According to reports from La Lazio Siamo Noi, Leicester are keen to add yet more firepower to their existing squad when the transfer window re-opens in January. With Jamie Vardy, Islam Slimani, Ahmed Musa and Leonardo Ulloa already in place, it may not seem like a priority, but the form of Ludogorets frontman Jonathan Cafu has caught Claudio Ranieri’s attention.
But just who is Jonathan Cafu? Here are five facts about the prolific striker.
Jonathan Cafu
1) He was born in the same place as a Brazilian legend
Cafu was born and raised in the Piracicaba district of Sao Paulo, the same place that spawned Jose Altafini, known in Brazil as ‘Mazzola’.
Altafini played in Brazil’s victorious 1958 World Cup campaign alongside Pele, and went on to appear the the 1962 World Cup – but for a different country. The striker was a victim of Brazil refusing to pick players based abroad, so he instead represented Italy, where he was playing at the time. He scored more than 300 goals across his career, so Cafu is not the first fine striker to come out of Piracicaba.
2) He has played for six different Brazilian teams
A nomadic striker during his time in his homeland, Cafu started out at Desportivo Brasil before going on to represent Boavista, XV de Piracicaba, Capivariano, Ponte Preta and Sao Paulo.
After five years in Brazilian senior football, he departed for Bulgaria in 2014.
Cafu fires in a shot against Basel
3) He was a league winner in his first season in Europe
Having joined Ludogorets Razgrad for a club-record fee, the pressure was on Cafu for the 2015/16 season. He repaid the faith shown in him with eight goals as the champions comfortably retained their league title, finishing 14 points clear of nearest challengers Levski Sofia.
4) He is a versatile player who can play up front or on the wing
Cafu was brought through the ranks as a winger in Brazil, but his impressive scoring record in Bulgaria shows he is also more than capable of playing centrally.
With Leicester well stocked for strikers, it may be that Cafu finds himself battling it out with Riyad Mahrez, Marc Albrighton and Demarai Gray for a spot on the wing.
Cafu could find himself in competition with Riyad Mahrez for a starting berth
5) He has scored in the Champions League
Having never played in Europe’s premier club competition prior to this season, Cafu found the net twice in the play-off success over Red Star Belgrade and scored against Basel in the opening group game as Ludogorets earned an impressive 1-1 draw.
Cafu didn’t find the net against PSG in the next match, but has a chance to impress English audiences as his side take on Arsenal in back-to-back fixtures over the next month.
Do you think Jonathan Cafu would be a good signing for Leicester? Leave your thoughts below.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
