After a winter transfer window in which Arsenal fans dreamt of signing Lukas Podolski, they have to content themselves with a different player from the Bundesliga. The recruitment of yet another unproven young attacking midfielder isn’t going to resolve any of Arsenal’s immediate problems. One may even ask: exactly what is the point of signing Thomas Eisfeld?

Those who had heard of him 24 hours ago are probably of the Football Manager anorak variety; Eisfeld is barely known in his own country, having never made a senior appearance for Borussia Dortmund. He is a classic Arsene Wenger signing; but, at a time when Wenger’s stock with Arsenal fans has seldom been lower, fans who just want to see some money spent certainly won’t be appeased.

Nevertheless, it is hard to point to a downside in Eisfeld’s signing: at £600,000 – the figure was so low because he was out of contract in the summer – Arsenal have signed a 19-year-old who was well-regarded in Dortmund, and a graduate of their famous academy.

It is rare in these days of Youtube footage for a player to be signed who is a genuine unknown. That is what Eisfeld is: he is best known for suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage in late 2009, from which Arsenal’s medical side are happy he has recovered from.

As for Eisfeld’s style of play, we have little more to go on than his record of six goals in 12 games for Dortmund U-19s this season, which speaks of a composure in front of goal that, Robin van Persie aside, is conspicuous for its absence from Arsenal’s side. Realistically, Eisfeld is unlikely to receive the chance to show he can replicate that success in Arsenal’s senior side until their League Cup campaign begins next season.

Perhaps the real significance of Eisfeld’s signing doesn’t lie in the player at all. Signing a player who is probably a couple of years short of making a real impact in Arsenal’s first team suggests Wenger is here to stay: he is still planning for the future, and the board are happy to accompany him in doing so.

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Who On Earth Is… Karem Frei?

The Juventus revolution is taking shape. Under Antonio Conte, a superb coach with a mesmerising personality, the Old Lady have looked anything but: a young side that has taken Serie A by storm and their latest victory over close rivals Udinese cemented their place at the top.

Conte’s side recently claimed the crown as winter champions, ‘awarded’ at the half-way point of the season, and have defied doubters who had insisted that Juventus’s early season form wouldn’t last. Current champions AC Milan are quaking in their boots and their recent tame home defeat to Internazionale suggests that complacency is creeping into their game. Winning back to back titles requires an unquenchable thirst for success and few teams possess such a characteristic. Barcelona and Manchester United are a couple of the select group; Massimo Allegri’s Milan don’t make the grade.

While Milan’s side is full of ageing stars, including the likes of Clarence Seedorf, Massimo Ambrosini and Alessandro Nesta amongst others, Juventus have a youthful look to their team. Just a couple of their regulars were born in the 70s, including the fabulous Gianluigi Buffon, but the rest make up a fresh-looking group characterised by their physical and courageous presence.

Giorgio Chiellini and Stephan Lichtsteiner are formidable at the back – Juventus have conceded just 13 times in 20 league matches – while Claudio Marchisio has grown into an accomplished midfielder alongside the rejuvenated Andrea Pirlo.

Pirlo’s performances during his final two years at Milan suggested that the 32-year-old was past his best but moving north to Turin has led to a resurgence from the ex-Brescia and Inter midfield artist. Juventus paid nothing for him and have been rewarded for their belief in a player many believed to be inadequate. Although Pirlo is one of the few over thirties of the side, he provides a steady head and consistently crisp, accurate passing. The other such ‘golden oldie’ is legend Alessandro Del Piero. Even if he rarely starts a game, his presence is vital in guiding the younger talents onto the right path.

Up front, Alessandro Matri got back to scoring ways with both against Udinese last night and has nine in 19 matches. Matri is accompanied by the likes of Mirko Vucinic (acquired from Roma), S
imone Pepe and Fabio Quagliarella (both ex-Udinese). Juventus may not seem the most prolific side, having netted 33 times in 20 outings, but it’s still the third highest total in the league and is made all the more impressive given the absences of Luca Toni and Vincenzo Iaquinta through injury. And bolstering their strike force is Marco Boriello, the Italan international, who has joined this month from Roma.

Juventus’s style of play is physical but attack-minded – something missing from Milan’s armoury. Pretty football will not always suffice and with many smaller sides happy to take draws against the elite, Juventus’s robustness has helped them seal three points rather than one on numerous occasions in tight matches. This was evident last weekend in the 2-0 victory at Atalanta – a mid-table but talented side with vociferous supporters. It was a potential banana skin for Conte but Juventus performed with a certain confidence unrecognisable from recent seasons.

Ever since the calciopoli scandal Juventus’s fans have had little to boast about and they remain humble even as their side threatens to upset the odds and conquer Serie A.

The progress under Conte, appointed only last May following a disastrous year under Luigi Delneri, has been a rollercoaster ride that continues to pump adrenaline into those aboard. The revolution is on-going and further personnel changes are likely during the summer months but the level-headed Conte is keen to focus on the present. His stern expression and harsh words in the post-match interviews even after victory belies a charismatic and popular coach, who celebrates every goal like a young boy.

Just 42, Conte is an individual with plenty of promise. He has quietly picked up experience at less popular outfits such as Bari and Siena but has never faced a task as mammoth as a Serie A title challenge. He does have two Serie B titles to his name, however, and will recognise the fact that the second half of the season will be the most demanding.

Conte will hope to use these past triumphs to guide Juventus home. If he manages it, it will go down as one of the great Serie A shocks – and for the ex-Juve midfielder – one of the most romantic.

In the second part of his look at the presence of Brazilian footballers in the top-flight of English football, Aleks Klosok casts his watchful eye over 5 Samba stars that have failed to cut it in the rough and tumble of the Premier League – some more dramatically so than others.While some players have struggled badly to adapt to the sheer pace and physicality of the English game, others have simply failed to live up to the grand reputations that preceded them in the past fuelled, in somc cases, by the hefty transfer fees paid for them by English clubs.

• Afonso Alves

Club: Middlesbrough (2008–2009)

After 45 goals in 40 appearances for Heerenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie, including seven in one game, and beating Marco van Basten’s national record in the process, the striker moved to the Riverside Stadium for a club-record fee believed to be in the region of £12,700,000. He was seen as the ideal solution to solve the struggling Teesiders goalscoring problems. But the Belo Horizonte-born man was never able to recapture his previous scintillating form as he found it difficult to adapt to the physicality of the Barclays Premier League. In two seasons, where he was mainly confined to the bench, he managed just 13 goals and was part of the team that was relegated to the Npower Championship in 2009.

Finest Moment: A rare double strike against Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League (6^th April 2008)

Where is he now? Al-Rayyan Sports Club

• Jô

Club: Manchester City (2008–2011)

Like Alves, the tall striker enjoyed a marvellous spell in European football in Russia with CSKA Moscow where his goals-to-games ratio was better than a goal every game. He became the first marquee signing of City’s new Arab owners under Mark Hughes but was unable to cement a regular starting place in the side, featuring in just 6 games at the start of the 2008–2009 season. His future at the club was cast into further doubt by the arrival of new manager Roberto Mancini and fellow strikers Edin Džeko and Mario Balotelli. Although the striker’s form picked up during loan spells with Everton and Galatasaray, the São Paulo-born man was unable to crack the English game.

Finest Moment: An excellent performance in Manchester City’s emphatic 4-1 away win against Fulham in the Barclays Premier League (21^st November 2010)

Where is he now? Internacional

• Roque Júnior

Club: Leeds United (2003–2004)

Hailed by the then manager Peter Reid as a man who would bring “strength and depth in quality”, that despite never seeing the slight defender in competitive action, the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2003 Champions League-winning player never lived up to the high expectations which greeted his arrival at Elland Road. His home debut ended in disaster as he was sent off against Birmingham City and it quickly became apparent that he was unable to adapt to the pace and physicality of Premiership football. He was guilty of numerous lapses in concentration and in his 7 games at the heart of the Leeds United defence, The Whites shipped in a staggering 24 goals.

Finest Moment: A double brace in a 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United in the Third Round of the Worthington Cup (28^th October 2003)

Where is he now? Retired

• Kléberson

Club: Manchester United (2003–2005)

Hailed by the then Brazilian National Team Head Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari as the driving force behind A Seleção’s 2002 FIFA World Cup victory, the central-midfielder arrived at Old Trafford at the same time as Cristiano Ronaldo. While the Portuguese international blossomed, Kléberson’s United career never took off. The dislocation of his shoulder in only his second appearance for the club put a brake on his progress under Sir Alex Ferguson. When he did appear, he was often played out of position, be it on the right wing or as an attacking midfielder. Ultimately, the now 32-year-old was unable to match the standards set by Roy Keane and after two seasons he signed for Beşiktaş.

Finest Moment: A commanding performance in midfield during Manchester United’s 4-0 home win over Aston Villa in the Premier League (6^th December 2003)

Where is he now? Flamengo CF

• Robinho

Club: Manchester City (2008–2010)

On his day, the striker-come-winger boasted a ruthless attacking edge and was worth every penny of the £32,5000,000 that City splashed out on the former Real Madrid player on the last day of the 2008 Summer Transfer Window. He ended his first season in England as City’s top scorer with 14 goals, finishing the 4^th top scorer in the Barclays Premier League. But the São Vicente-born man was never able to produce consistent performances, sighting his failure to adapt to the physical nature of the English game and inability to settle into life in Manchester. The arrival of Roberto Mancini following the sacking of Mark Hughes and his questionable attitude saw the Brazilian international fall further down the pecking order at City.

Finest Moment: A sublime hat-trick against Stoke City in the Barclays Premier League (26^th October 2008)

Where is he now? AC Milan

One of Jose Mourinho’s biggest problems is the press. Only in England did he have them under his control while in Italy and Spain they’ve proved to be unfathomable beasts.

The former Chelsea manager has many other issues besides though. His arrogance and self-conviction need to be expressed at every moment and anyone in the way will get hurt. What would be Mourinho’s idea of paradise? It would have to be a place without freedoms of press where the league has been set-up by the Portuguese himself, according to his rules and with the matches officiated by his choice of referees.

Although his time at Chelsea ended badly, Mourinho’s spell in England was his best in management by quite some distance: lenient referees (the number of times he should have been sent to the stands but wasn’t still takes the breath away), adoring supporters and complete control over squad matters (Shevchenko apart). Plus a media ready to lick the manure off his leather boots.

Having infuriated the press in Italy, often failing to give post-match interviews and for a seeming lack of respect for them, Mourinho’s hit his zenith in Spain. There is a mutual feeling of pure hatred between the two parties which hit a new low this weekend as Real Madrid propaganda paper Marca, good friends of most of the club’s players, published damaging articles questioning Mourinho’s control over the dressing room and his ability as a coach.

The players are upset and unconvinced – and over the last decade, this has been enough to send an array coaches to the guillotine

A few days after a similar story, in which an anonymous player stated that “the club were not going anywhere soon” and that “Mourinho doesn’t know how to manage such a quality team and ends up selecting less technical players in favour of those who offer more physical fight,” another has been reported, analysing the coach’s row with Sergio Ramos, long-time defender at the club.

During a training session, Mourinho is alleged to have told Ramos that he “had killed him (figuratively)  in the mixed zone (press interview area)” with his comments and when the ex-Sevilla man rebutted the charge, Mou continued “Well it’s obvious, you Spanish won the World Cup and so your friends in the press are protecting you…like the goalkeeper for example.” Iker Casillas, 30 metres away, heard this remark and apparently yelled “coach, here things are said face to face.” The final insult came as Mourinho questioned Ramos’s marking for Carlos Puyol’s goal during the midweek Copa del Rey encounter. Ramos refused to take blame and noted “given that you’ve never played in your life, you wouldn’t know that sometimes these things happen.”

So used to having his own way and players who look up to him as a father figure, the changing room at Madrid is at odds with the self-professed special one. But it was always going to be a match made in hell.

Player power has dominated at the Bernebeu for years and coaches have come and gone as the same players smirked at their increased salaries. Hiring somebody like Mourinho seemed ideal because the two most arrogant elements in world football were being united. The best players, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, and in most eyes, the best coach, who had come from winning the treble with Internazionale. But Mourinho is childish in his narcissistic pretention and will not tolerate it from another person, and much less change who he is in order to make himself a success in the purgatory that is Real Madrid.

Failure, on all fronts, to get the better of Barcelona last season has cranked up the pressure on Mourinho and a repeat this season would probably prove too hurtful for all concerned parties. Mourinho’s pride has taken a considerable battering and his increasingly bizarre behaviour demonstrates the stress he is feeling (regular outbursts on the sidelines towards the officials, poking his finger in the eye of a Barcelona coach). Even towards the end of last season, rumours circulated that his time in Spain’s capital had come to an end and with fresh issues manifesting themselves every week, it’s difficult to see the 49-year-old lasting much longer.

The players are upset and unconvinced – and over the last decade, this has been enough to send an array coaches to the guillotine. If it was for Mourinho, he would most likely remain thanks to his winner’s mentality which dictates that he doesn’t leave without having achieved his objectives and, in this case, without having surpassed Barcelona for a major trophy on at least one occasion.

Perhaps if Real beat Barcelona to La Liga this season then the divorce can be announced without too much fallout. If Mourinho was to go, a return to the Premier League would surely be inevitable. Long touted for the Manchester United job when Sir Alex Ferguson finally decides to retire, Mourinho would once again enjoy the special privileges that were afforded to him during his first spell in the league.

It’s improbable that Mourinho’s version of managerial paradise actually exists, but the Premier League is the most compatible and as such the Portuguese’s destiny lies there. Here’s offering in advance a warm welcome back to Jose, the great enigma.

In 1987 Mirandinha became the first Brazilian footballer to ply his trade in England. In the intervening 25 years, his counterparts have experienced varying degrees of success, with some thriving and others struggling. Aleks Klosok looks at 5 Samba stars that have left a lasting impression on the English game.

Despite once being deemed too physically challenging and technically unrefined, the number of Brazilian footballers playing in the Premier League has increased year-on-year. Their captivating flare and technical quality has wowed English footballing crowds while stories of their individual successes have created unprecedented levels of interest back in their homeland.

• Juliano Belletti

Club: Chelsea (2007–2010)

Dependable, a tireless work ethic and with the occasional flash of Brazilian brilliance in his locker courtesy of his lethal right foot, the right-back-come-utility player (occasionally deployed on the right-wing or as a defensive midfielder) may not have been one of The Blues most glamour transfers in years gone by but he was arguably one of the most underrated players at Stamford Bridge. A regular starter under Avram Grant, his place in the starting XI became uncertain with the arrival of new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari and FC Porto’s José Bosingwa at the start of the 2008–2009 season. Nonetheless, his versatility, reliability and experience was to prove vital in the following season when Chelsea went on to record an FA Cup and Barclays Premier League double.

Finest Moment: Winner of Chelsea’s Goal of the Season Award (2007–2008)

Where is he now? Retired

• Edu

Club: Arsenal (2001–2005)

Despite a slow start to his Arsenal career, which was tarnished by an injury on his debut, the following seasons would see him gradually mature and become an increasingly important squad member. The central-midfielder’s form peaked in the 2003–2004 season when he was seen an integral part of the ‘Invincibles’ team. Whilst he was strong and combative in defence, he also showed an offensive edge to him, attacking from deep with the ball and acting as the catalyst for Arsenal counter-attacks. The midfielder helped the club to win 2 Barclays Premier Leagues and 3 FA Cups, the last in 2005. The Gunners haven’t won a trophy since his departure.

Finest Moment: A stunning midfield performance during Arsenal’s 5-1 demolition of Internazionale at the San Siro in the UEFA Champions League Group Stages (25^th November 2003)

Where is he now? Director of Football at Corinthians

• Elano

Club: Manchester City (2007–2009)

Upon his arrival at Eastlands in 2007, the attacking midfielder made a blistering start under the then manager Sven-Göran Eriksson. He was dominant at the heart of the City midfield, noted in particular for his accurate passing, telepathic vision and, above all, precise set pieces which gained him notoriety amongst the City faithful. The Brazilian was the creative outlet for the side, and his first season saw him return with 10 goals and as many assists in all competitions. But with the resignation of Eriksson and subsequent arrival of Mark Hughes, his role in the first team slowly diminished. Nonetheless, his versatility ensured that he always remained an important squad member until his move to Turkish club Galatasaray in 2009.

Finest Moment: A superb free-kick against Newcastle United in the Barclays Premier League on his debut (29^th September 2007)

Where is he now? Santos

• Juninho Paulista

Club: Middlesbrough (1995–1997, 1999–2000 and 2002–2004)

Arguably the greatest Brazilian to grace the English game, The Little Fella, as he came to be known at the Riverside Stadium, produced some of the most exciting football ever seen at the club with his close control, wonderful range of passing and offensive style. His effectiveness in the attacking midfield position helped the club reach the FA Cup and League finals in 1997 and saw him come runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award. His humbleness and love for the Teeside outfit was confirmed when, after having helped the club win the Carling Cup in 2004, he stated that the win meant more to him than winning the 2002 FIFA World Cup with Brazil.

Finest Moment: Voted by Middlesbrough fans as Middlesbrough’s greatest ever player (December 2007)

Where is he now? President of Ituano

• Gilberto Silva

Club: Arsenal (2002–2008)

For six seasons he was Arsenal’s unsung hero, providing tactical stability, leadership and acting as a magnificent defensive shield in front of the back four. His excellent understanding of the game and calmness was trumped by his effortless simplicity with the use of the ball, which set him apart from his counterparts. Whilst the likes of Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg and Patrick Vieira provided power, creativity and grace, the experienced Brazilian seamlessly broke up opposition moves that consequently instigated countless numbers of counter-attacks that the likes of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp duly thrived on. His premature departure from the club in 2008 left a gaping hole in the Arsenal midfield that has arguably only now been tightened up with the emergence of central-midfielder Alex Song.

Finest Moment: Winning the Premier League as part of the ‘Invincibles’ Team (2004)

Where is he now? Grêmio

This week’s column focuses on the differing roll of the fourth official in each of the countries.

An Italian coach gets all emotional as the fourth official approaches in the background

The majority of casual fans will not know the role of the fourth official and will notice him only when substitutions are being made or additional time shown. And in fairness, the task of the fourth official in England often does not rise much above that.

They are not, however, simply electronic board-holders. They are in constant communication with the referee via headsets, must control each substitution and fill out the paperwork, control the technical areas and how many people are standing up in those areas at any given time.

And now Fifa has given them even further powers: they can now assist the referee with decisions, i.e. incidents missed on the field by the main official. This was previously (somewhat oddly and certainly unhelpfully) prohibited but now the extra man has tokeep an eye on proceedings just in case. Oh, and he is also a reserve in case the one running gets injured.

There is a clear difference, surprisingly, between how these roles are carried out in England and in Italy.

A lot comes down to behaviour and needless to say Italy-based coaches are much harder work than their England-based counterparts. Even Italian coaches in England calm down quite considerably under the understanding that such behaviour is going to be accepted. Serie A’s fourth officials have the tough job of controlling a much more impulsive group, who at any time are liable to lose their heads – usually to subsequently lose their place on the bench.

In the Premier League, the fourth official remains between the two benches; if this happens in Italy, it’s only because the two technical areas have threatened to shoot him should he get any closer – such is the amount of work they have on their hands

What’s important to appreciate is that when an Italian coach loses his head, it gets serious. Every parolaccia (swear word) under the sun froths from the mouth and the whole match takes a sour turn. A coach in England will typically remain very calm, perhaps talking from time to time with the official, though should a series of decisions in quick succession go against them, the treatment can be just as brutal. Yet a neutral would surely suggest the English way is a lot fairer.

Treatment of referees is horrendous in Italy and one single controversial decision makes the official seem like the worst in the entire world. Hence, for one decision, a coach will cause an uproar in the technical area even if the referee has been up to world class standards until then. And the notion of decisions evening themselves out has no place in Italy’s game. A team may have avoided giving away three penalties when there seemed a clear foul, but as soon as they do not get one for such a misdemeanor, there is hell to pay.

While the behaviour of coaches in the two countries is plainly diverse, it’s the difference in the movement and activity of the fourth officials that is most striking. In the Premier League it is rare to see the fourth official leaving his perch between the two benches. If he does, something serious has happened.

In Italy, if the fourth official is found in that middle ground, it would only because the two technical areas have threatened to shoot him should he get any closer.

Joking aside, the official is constantly marching from one side to the other, right on the touchline itself, and having to bark at various members of the bench for one rule discrepancy or another.

There is no danger of feeling the cold being the fourth man in Italy.

Pundits in England often joke that there is little need to have a fourth official but in Italy it is absolutely imperative. Without him, the coaches would be ten metres onto the pitch, all the substitutes would be standing up and the nearside assistant referee would have probably been man-handled at best.

As such, the Italian version has to make himself look important. Strolling up and down evidently does the job and the coaches and players leave it until after the game to scandalously criticise the referee. Those in the studio are doing so long before though it might require a hoard of men in black to stop their aggressively brutal assessments of the officials.

The money is about the same in England for carrying out the role, so I’d advise any dreamy-eyed  wannabe fourth officials (though at the moment Fifa do not allow applications solely for this role, enquiries will be made as to why…) to carry out training far away from the mad, often bad world of calcio italiano.

For a man not yet 23, Theo Walcott may contend that he has suffered more criticism than reasonable. It’s not his fault that he was signed for £9 million as a 16-year-old; nor his that he was then taken to the World Cup before he had made his Arsenal debut. In his career so far he has already scored a hat trick for England against Croatia; helped to transform a match against Barcelona; and played with brilliant dynamism in Arsenal’s 5-3 win at Stamford Bridge this season. Is criticism of him just a little unreasonable?

Walcott has often been compared with the man who wore the number 14 shirt at Arsenal before him, Thierry Henry. As well as their shirt number, both share remarkable powers of acceleration, the ability to dribble past defenders and the tendency to drift in from the wing to attack the opposition goal. Yet, perhaps a more relevant comparison is with the England cricketer Monty Panesar. Shane Warne famously said of Panesar that “he hasn’t played 33 Tests, he’s played one test 33 times.”

One can say something very similar of Walcott. He has more and less effective games, as all players do, but the overall improvement seems lacking, the same mistakes keep being repeated. This season, his crossing has improved markedly – but it remains exasperatingly inconsistent. His finishing, for all the excellence of his goal in Arsenal’s last game at Swansea, seldom inspires confidence. Indeed five goals in 27 games this season, compared to 13 in 38 last campaign, adds to the notion that it may just be getting worse; certainly, his finishing is nowhere near good enough for him to be moved to the centre, as if often discussed. It is a damning indictment indeed that he could learn much from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, only 18 but with a natural directness towards goal that Walcott, too often tentative when opportunities present themselves, needs to replicate.

The spectacular performances Walcott has produced in his career – Lionel Messi, no less, called him “one of the most dangerous players I have ever played against” – now look less like proof of his ease on the highest stage than illusionary breakthroughs. Walcott’s first ‘breakthrough’, a wonderfully assured trio of goals away to Croatia, was over three years ago. It is reasonable to doubt whether he will ever attain consistency.

It is a great shame, for Walcott’s raw pace, dribbling and, on occasions at least, finishing ability hints at a rare class: one that suggests comparisons with Henry need not be outlandish. Preventing him stepping up is a lack of footballing awareness – reflected in poor decision-making under pressure. Perhaps there is also an innate lack of self-belief. There should not be, but it does seem revealing that Walcott’s finest performances – think of his appearance against Barcelona in 2010, when he was a substitute; and the match in Croatia, when he was a borderline selection – have been when expectations on him were minimal. After these he has not gone as, but has retreated into himself. Far too often, his impact on games is little more than peripheral.

It is all rather exasperating to watch: a brilliantly talented footballer whose career is seemingly being played on loop, the pursuit of consistent excellence forever elusive. That might seen a harsh verdict considering Walcott’s age, but, in his sixth season in the Arsenal first team, it hardly seems unreasonable to hope his progress might have become a little more obvious.

At the age of 18 he was one of the most talked about prospects to emerge from South America and yet just four years later his career is very much hanging in the balance. Aleks Klosok considers the promising past, problematic present and uncertain future of Brazilian centre back Breno.

On the 6^th February 1958, the ashes that appeared in the Munich sky were those emanating from the Munich Air Disaster. 53 years later, the appearance of ashes once again in the sky of Germany’s third largest city, signalled another tragedy. The suspected act of arson by Breno on his house drew to a close a rollercoaster four years for the defender that began with such excitement, descended into chaos and now leaves him considering his future in the game.

The 22-year-old’s career couldn’t have begun under more different circumstances. After four years spent in the Youth Academy at São Paulo, the stocky centre back seamlessly slotted into the starting XI following high praise from former Tricolor star Zé Sérgio. Indeed, 2007 would prove to be a remarkable year for club and player, respectively. São Paulo finished as runaway winners of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A – their fifth Campeonato overall. As for Breno himself, he looked assured when in possession of the ball, was strong and robust in the tackle and proved to be more than a match for opposition strikers. Such consistently excellent performances saw him become the youngest ever winner of the Bola de Prata. At the time there was no doubting that he was a wonderful prospect.

The Cruzeiro-born youngster’s qualities in his successful debut campaign with the Morumbi outfit earned him a call up, by the then National Team Head Coach Dunga, to the Brazil Olympic Football Team (otherwise known as the Brazil National Under-23 team) to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The 6ft 2in defender was influential in helping A Seleção maintain clean sheets in every game up until the semi-final stage where the team was unceremoniously dumped out of the competition by rivals Argentina. Nonetheless, his impressive displays had caught the eyes of a number of big European clubs and it was German football giants FC Bayern Munich, identified by ex-star striker Élber, who stole a march to secure his services.

Whilst he had the benefit of easily adjusting to a well-defined defensive system at São Paulo, the centre back’s lack of top-level experience was immediately cruelly exposed as he found it difficult to adapt to the style and pace of the German game. Furthermore, persistent injuries to his right knee plagued his chances of stringing together a successful run of games, prematurely ending his loan spell with FC Nuremberg in 2010 and the 2010-2011 season as a whole. This season brought with it hope of a change in fortune, however his appearances were restricted by the emergence of the highly rated Holger Badstuber. Overall, Breno has made just 40 appearances for the Bavarian outfit over the course of four years. However, matters off the pitch haven’t helped his cause either.

Since arriving in Germany three years ago, the player has lurched from one personal crisis to another. His involvement in a series of bust-ups with opposition players, staff and a marital crisis, most recently culminated in an incident last year, on the 24^th September, when he was arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with a fire at his home. Despite evidence suggesting his involvement in the incident, the Brazilian was released on bail soon afterwards. This has led some in the German media to question his state of mind, an issue still very much in the public domain following the suicide of the former German International goalkeeper Robert Enke two years ago. And yet one should perhaps not be too surprised to learn of such tumultuous goings on.

It’s often said that Brazilian players are making the move across the pond too early on in their careers. Breno is a case in point. Overexcited and perhaps misguided, he leapt into the great unknown without an understanding of the German game, culture and language. In his first three years with the Bavarian outfit he preferred to speak his native Brazilian Portuguese. So much so that a translator was required to be present for the birth of his son Pietro in 2009. With such high-expectations levelled at him and at such a young age, it’s little wonder he cracked. In hindsight, a few more months to pick up experience in the Copa Libertadores would have done him no harm whatsoever. Instead, he’s now embarking upon a slow road to recovery.

The defender has many bridges to mend with his current employers who stuck by him through his most difficult times. How can he repay them? Through his performances on the pitch, which, in the early stages of his career, did all the talking. He’s under no illusions that a huge degree of work, commitment and training will be required for him to once again reach those levels that saw him earn a move to the current Bundesliga leaders in the first place. His psychological condition is now as important, if not even more so, as his physical condition. He returned to action with a run out for FC Bayern Munich II in early November – the first step in what he hopes will be a successful return to the starting XI.

Whether he does decide to stay and fight it out or return home to former club São Paulo, who’ve expressed an interest in offering him an escape route from Bavaria, at the age of 22, the Brazilian still has time on his side. Breno must now breath new life into those fading embers and thus reignite a career that’s been, up till now, significantly starved of satisfaction, security and stability.

Alexandre Pato has done few things wrong since his cross-continent move, but after such a blistering start to his career in Europe, supporters of the 

AC Milan took an uncharacteristic gamble on the former Internacional striker, splashing out €24m when Italian clubs were tending to keep their savings safe. Moreover, all this money was handed over for a 17-year-old with just 10 senior appearances in the Brasileirão, the domestic championship. Although he had managed to turn heads with 11 goals in 19 appearances, including one in the FIFA Club World Cup, many remained unconvinced. Pato wouldn’t be the first South American to flounder in the European game despite starring back at home, they argued.

Pato arrived in Italy in August 2007 but due to his age had to wait until January 2008 to officially sign for Milan. That time certainly seemed to aid a transition that often proves too great for many South American professionals. He was able to participate in friendlies and during the four month pause, spent a lot of time in gym in order to work on his physique to meet the demands of the European game. Having arrived looking like a stick insect – a typical trait of South American players, who are used to discounting physical presence in order to rightly prioritise technique and skill – by January Pato was buffed-up.

Judging by the supporters’ whistles, it seems the case that Pato has just a few months in order to demonstrate his worth

Very few imports have the chance to benefit from this opportunity, but the wait was worthwhile as Pato became an instant hero, shedding a tear at his first Milan goal, against Napoli, and then going on to net a double against Genoa – all within the month of January.

The “Duck”, as his nickname goes, continued his dream start: he finished the season with nine goals in 20 appearances and up until this season had maintained a steady strike rate of one every two games. Pato became a regular in the Brazil set-up, with the number 9 shirt on his back, and netted six times in 18 appearances.

The honeymoon period seems to have come to a sudden end. No longer is Pato enjoying so much freedom in Serie A as even the traditionally weaker sides have been able to match his tricky feet with some stern defending and realised that the 22-year-old’s potency is greatly reduced if forced to shoot from outside the penalty area. Pato’s distance shooting has been woeful, so tight man-to-man marking when he does make it inside the area is the order of the day, and this season has proved extremely effective in reducing his goal threat.

Injuries have also contributed to Pato’s miserable season, the Brazilian having made just 15 appearances. In the league, though, his record requires some explaining: just one goal in 10 appearances.

January has proved Pato’s most trying period at the club. His lack of form assisted Milan in their decision to accept a bid from Paris St Germain, the ‘new Manchester City’ in the wealthy owners’ club. Given that Pato considers the club as his adopted home and pretty much the only one at which he has played professional football, Milan’s willingness to let him go undoubtedly came as a shock. Although at no point did they state their desire for Pato to leave, the same stance taken during the Kaka-Manchester City saga of 2009, Milan are not unrealistic and Carlo Ancelotti’s Paris St Germain were offering silly money for a player that could be replaced for a lot less. All eyes were on Carlos Tevez, but Pato opted to remain and Milan were constrained to drop their interest in the Argentine.

The transfer is definitely off, until the summer at least, and should allow both parties to concentrate on Milan’s bid to retain their Serie A title.

But the questions over Pato’s form refuse to go away. Milan were dreadful in the 1-0 ‘home’ derby defeat against Inter, with most fingers pointing at the lack of performance from the number 7. Some preferred to argue that he was not given the opportunity to make an impact, but the reality was that Pato was extremely subdued and failed to put in at least a grinding performance when that might have made the difference in such a tight match. Besides that, he made few enterprising runs to get into promising positions and in terms of creating chances for the other front men, was anonymous.

Three days later he did find the net, in the Coppa Italia victory over Novara, with a neat finish having lobbed the goalkeeper but the critics were still out in force. On at least three occasions he wasted excellent free-kick positions, ballooning the ball wide of goal after insisting on taking each set-piece. And in open play, Pato rarely worried the opposition goalkeeper, skewing shots wide when in a lot of space. Milan needed extra time to triumph but reflecting on the number of chances the generous Novara defence offered them, and in particular the Brazilian, should have won by a few clear goals in normal time.

Pato, as the new head striker alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has a heavy weight on his shoulders and is so far being crushed by it. He went off injured following his goal last night, but one feels the last thing he needs is another period on the sidelines as he looks to prove that he can regain the form that once made him a fan favourite. This is given further weight by the emergence of rising star Stephan El Shaarawy, just 19, who scored an excellent goal in the same Coppa Italia game and was far more dynamic and effectual.

Judging by the whistles from the supporters yesterday, it may take some time but it seems the case that Pato has just a few months in order to demonstrate his worth. Ancelotti will surely come calling again and Milan have already shown that they do not regard Pato at indispensable. This increasingly lame duck needs to find the necessary solutions and fast, otherwise risking a fall into obscurity.