Football features

THE same weekend that Gabriel Martinelli scored a wonderful goal for Arsenal, Hulk scored two to take Atletico Mineiro to the brink of their first Brazilian league title since 1971.That was the year Charlie George helped Arsenal to the double and when no one imagined that 60 years later strikers from Brazil would be making a mark in the English game.
Hulk celebrates firing Atletico Mineiro to the brink of the Brazilian titleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Brazil youngster Gabriel Martinelli was also on target for Arsenal over the weekendCredit: Reuters
The comparison between Martinelli and Hulk is a clear example of some of the trends in today’s football.
Not so long ago, someone like Martinelli would be living the dream by turning out for one of the giant teams in his home city of Sao Paulo – Corinthians, perhaps, or recently crowned champions of South America, Palmeiras.
Instead he did not even get close to the Brazilian first division. He chose to play for Ituano, a small club an hour’s drive outside Sao Paulo, because the connection with Juninho would make it easier for him to move to England. A globalised generation have globalised dreams.
And the big European clubs want to make those dreams come true as early as possible. They want to strip South American football of its best talent while they are still teenagers.
The idea is to take them across the Atlantic early, to help them adapt to life and to football in a different culture.
And so these days the outstanding players in the Brazilian game are often the veterans rather than the wonderkids.
Hulk is an excellent example. He played a grand total of two games in Brazil back in 2004. Still an unknown, he was fixed up with a move to Japan.
And after a long career taking him on to Portugal, Russia and China, this year he has gone back home to join Atletico Mineiro. Some doubted him. But he has been the best player in the league.
He is the first division’s top scorer, and after his team had fallen behind against Fluminense on Sunday he added two more to win the game and make Atletico almost certain champions.
His strike partner is the former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid centre forward, Diego Costa.
Saturday also staged the showpiece occasion of South American football,  the Copa Libertadores final between two Brazilian giants, Palmeiras and Flamengo. 
It was striking that the starting line ups featured just two players under 25. Palmeiras sold Gabriel Jesus to Manchester City.
Flamengo have concentrated on producing future stars for Europe – such as Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Lucas Paqueta of Lyon – and using the proceeds to bring back two types of player from the other side of the Atlantic.
One is the veterans, those looking to end their careers with a last attempt at silverware – the recently acquired David Luiz is an example.
Brazil’s top clubs are turning to veterans like David Luiz for successCredit: Getty

The other is players in their mid 20s who have not been able to find space in the deep European clubs.
There are several examples of this in the Flamengo line up. A recent one is midfielder Andreas Pereira, on loan from Manchester United.
But on Saturday this did not have a happy ending. With the match at 1-1 in extra time, it was a glaring error from Andreas Pereira that gifted the game to Palmeiras – an outcome that Gabriel Jesus was certainly celebrating.
Brazilian national team trains ahead of huge World Cup qualifier against Messi’s Argentina More

JOSE Mourinho gets a bad rep for not giving youth players a chance in the first team.But as last weekend showed, he’s not afraid to give a teenager a shot at glory, if they are good enough.
Felix Afena-Gyan starred for Roma on his debut scoring twiceCredit: Getty
Jose Mourinho handed the wonderkid his debut and bought him some Balenciaga trainersCredit: Instagram @ohenegyanfelix9
The Special One introduced 18-year-old Felix Afena-Gyan into the fray as Roma took on Genoa.
And the kid became an instant hero, netting twice late on to secure a 2-0 victory.
The Portuguese later showed his gratitude by gifting Afena-Gyan a pair of £670 Balenciaga trainers.
Over the years, Mourinho has handed plenty of wonderkids their debuts. Here’s the best of the bunch.
ALVARO MORATA
When the Spain star was just 18, Mourinho gave Morata some needed experience in the first team.
He was introduced in the 88th minute, coming on for Angel Di Maria against Real Zaragoza.
However, Morata wouldn’t make a first team start until two years later.
Now owned by Atletico Madrid, the 29-year-old is on loan at Juventus.
Alvaro Morata was given his debut aged 18 at Real Madrid by MourinhoCredit: PA:Press Association
FABINHO
Well before he became Liverpool’s midfield enforcer, Brazilian Fabinho was trying to make his name in LaLiga.
Mourinho brought the then 19-year-old on for Fabio Coentrao with just 14 minutes left to play against Malaga.
And he made an instant impression, setting up Angel Di Maria’s goal in a 6-2 rout.
Now 28, he is a Champions League winner with the Reds.
Before Fabinho was bossing Liverpool’s midfield, he was a teenager at Real Madrid under MourinhoCredit: Getty
RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK
Now featuring in the Chelsea line-up under Thomas Tuchel, it was Mourinho who was the first to have faith with the midfield dynamo at just 19.
In the 83rd minute of a Champions League tie against Sporting Lisbon, Loftus-Cheek, 25, was introduced to proceedings at the expense of Cesc Fabregas.
But Ruben would only make eight appearances under Jose, with his dad insisting the former Blues coach held his son’s development back.
Fast-forward six years, and loans away at Crystal Palace and Fulham, he’s even become an England international.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek receives instructions before making his Chelsea debutCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN
Another player who Tuchel has benefited from thanks to Jose is Danish centre back Christensen, 25.
He would play three times under Mourinho, making his debut in a League Cup win over Shrewsbury at 18.
However, he was in the side for the infamous 4-2 defeat to Bradford in the FA Cup.
Christensen also featured in the final game of the 2014-15 season, lifting the Premier League trophy in front of his own fans.
Andreas Christensen was handed his Chelsea bow by Mourinho aged 18Credit: EPA
SCOTT MCTOMINAY
The Scottish midfielder, 24, left a lasting impression on Mourinho.
In 2017, when he was 20, McTominay came off the bench to make his bow against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
He would then make his first start on the final day of the 2016-17 season in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
The following season, Mourinho would call McTominay the Manager’s Player of the Season.
Scott McTominay was a favourite of Mourinho’s at Man UtdCredit: Getty
NACHO FERNANDEZ
With a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on the horizon, Mourinho chose to rest first-choice Marcelo for an untried 21-year-old Nacho Fernandez in a game against Valencia.
He featured again a week later, although Los Blancos fell 3-2 at home to Real Zaragoza.
Nacho wouldn’t feature in LaLiga for nearly two years, till he replaced Alvaro Arbeloa in the closing stages against, ironically, Zaragoza.
Since then, the 31-year-old has gone to become a Real Madrid legend – appearing over 240 times for the club and winning the Champions League four times.
Nacho Fernandez has gone on to become a Real Madrid legend since Mourinho gave him his wingsCredit: Getty
PABLO SARABIA
Sarabia is a product of Real Madrid’s youth academy, La Fabrica.
At 18, he high-fived none-other-than Cristiano Ronaldo to make his way onto the pitch during a Champions League match against Auxerre.
However, Mourinho clearly wasn’t convinced by Sarabia and shipped him off to Getafe.
The Spanish winger, 29, is now owned by PSG – but playing at Sportin Lisbon.
Pablo Sarabia is on PSG’s books after Real Madrid sold himCredit: Getty – Contributor
DENIS CHERYSHEV
The Russian forward, 30, was a star of Real Madrid’s B team.
But he had to wait till 2015 until making his debut for the club – playing 13 minutes in a 1-0 defeat of Granada.
Before that, he had enjoyed a loan spell at Villarreal, where he showed real promise.
In 2016, the Yellow Submarine made the deal permanent. But since 2019, Cheryshev has plied his trade at Valencia.
Denis Cheryshev failed to make the grade at Los BlancosCredit: Getty Images – Getty
DIEGO LLORENTE
Leeds United have profited quite beautifully from a Mourinho debut boy.
Llorente, 28, has impressed at Elland Road, albeit his progress has been halted by injuries since arriving in 2020.
It was all the way back in 2013, aged 20, he appeared against Osasuna in LaLiga.
However, it was Real Sociedad he would make his name when he left the Bernabeu in 2017.
As a 20-year-old Diego Llorente pulled on the Los Blancos shirt with Mourinho in chargeCredit: Getty – Contributor
DOMINIC SOLANKE
Now showing his unbelievable promise at Bournemouth, who he has scored 16 goals in 20 games this season, Mourinho vowed he would blame himself if Solanke, 24, didn’t get an England call-up under his management.
Ahead of the 2014-15 season, he had the forward training with his first team.
Mourinho would throw him on as a late sub against NK Maribor that campaign as an eager 18-year-old.
But chances were limited at the Bridge, and he moved to Liverpool in 2017 when his contract expired.
Dominic Solanke left Stamford Bridge after chances became limitedCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
JAPHET TANGANGA
Technically, it was Mauricio Pochettino who gave Tanganga a run out in a League Cup tie.
But Mourinho gave the defender his first Premier League appearance when he started against eventual league winners Liverpool.

And the strict boss was delighted with his show.
“The kid has reason to be very happy with his level, not with the result obviously, but with his first game in the Premier League, it couldn’t be a bigger one and he did it amazingly,” said Mourinho.
The 22-year-old has gone on to feature regularly for Spurs under Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.
Japhet Tanganga has grown in the Spurs first team since Mourinho was glowing about him after his Premier League debutCredit: Getty More

‘TIS the season to be jolly… and raucous, if you’re a footballer.After missing out on Christmas parties last year because of the coronavirus, you can expect plenty of shenanigans when football clubs allow their players to celebrate the festive period.
Liverpool’s Christmas parties of the past often involved fancy dressCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Leeds star Kalvin Phillips was unlucky enough to get injured after a nasty fall in a London nightclub during Leeds’ Xmas shindig.
But that’s tame, considering there’s been arrests, fights and even fancy dress mishaps, like one former England legend dressing up as a Ku Klux Klan member.
And don’t forget one captain organising dwarf-tossing for his team mates.
MANCHESTER CITY, 2004
Notorious Joey Barton made front page news for an incident at a Manchester nightclub, when he played for City.
Dressed in fancy dress as Jimmy Saville, which would now be a massive no-no, he got into an altercation with youth player Jamie Tandy.
But rather than walk away, Barton launched into the offensive and stubbed a cigar out in the eye of the youngster.
Barton was reprimanded by the club and fined six weeks wages.
Tandy would later claim the incident ruined his career.
Joey Barton attacked a youth star with a lit cigarCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Jamie Tandy shows off the damage Barton did to his eyeCredit: Collect
TOTTENHAM, 2009
Harry Redknapp did not take kindly to being lied to by Robbie Keane in 2009.
The Irishman told his gaffer that he was taking his team mates to Dublin for a golf trip.
Instead, they hit a pub and club instead of the fairways, which inevitably Redknapp found out about.
Peter Crouch revealed in his book that Harry was “mad”. The 16 players involved were all docked £20,000 from their wages.
“Wednesday was their day off and Robbie told me they were going to Dublin to play golf. I had no problem with that.
“I am not happy and it will be dealt with, and dealt with severely.
“I was shocked when I heard about it. I don’t see why parties should happen in today’s football – they’re more trouble than they’re worth.”
Roy Keane was frozen out at Spurs after lying to Harry Redknap that he was taking his team mates to play golf in Dublin, instead going out boozingCredit: PA:Press Association
MAN UTD, 2007
It was one Christmas party too many for Sir Alex Ferguson, who banned his players from having them after 2007.
The reason? Well, a reported 13-hour bender, where some stars spent up to £4,000, visited Long Legs strip club, and a karaoke bar.
Wags were, unsurprisingly, banned from proceedings as witnesses claimed the footballers were out of control during their night out.
Although, it didn’t do too much harm with United winning the Premier League and Champions League at the end of the season.
Wayne Rooney spotted out at Man Utd’s 2007 Christmas partyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Long legs strip club was one of many establishments United’s stars visited on their Christmas party, forcing Sir Alex Ferguson to cancel them moving forwardCredit: Warren Smith
CHELSEA, 1994
If you’re going to allow Vinnie Jones to organise your Christmas party, you can expect fireworks.
But, what you would least expect is to take part in dwarf-tossing.
That’s precisely what the ex-Wimbledon hardman had in store for his Chelsea team mates, when he organised a lock-in at a West London pub.
Tony Cascarino said: “The idea was to pick up a dwarf and hurl him as far as you could.
“I had a go, but I can’t remember how I did. They were heavier than I expected.”
Vinnie Jones organised a lock-in at a West London pub in his Chelsea daysCredit: Alan Cozzi
WEST HAM, 2001
Hayden Foxe didn’t leave a lasting memory as a player with the Hammers.
But the Aussie certainly might have left his scent at former West End nightclub Sugar Reef, where West Ham went for their Xmas bash 20 years ago.
After a reported 15 pints, he jumped up on the bar, unzipped his trousers and urinated everywhere.
The defender was fined two weeks’ wages, before leaving the club at the end of the campaign.
He later revealed: “Some people are taking it light-heartedly and some are taking it the other way. I can’t turn back the clock even though it’s not something I’m proud of.”
Hayden Foxe, formerly of West Ham, urinated on the bar of a nightclubCredit: Allsport
NEWCASTLE, 1998
As bad taste goes, the Toon Army trumped everyone in the 1990s playing Secret Santa at their party.
Showing what they felt about one another, Newcastle’s footballers gave each other gifts.
German legend Dietmar Hamann was handed a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf, bald Georgian Temuri Ketsbaia was given a comb, while someone bravely handed Duncan Ferguson a prison shirt, following time he spent inside.
Oddly, Alessandro Pistone was gifted a sheep’s heart because of his lack of commitment on the pitch.
“I’m sure it was a joke,” the Italian later said.
For Newcastle’s Secret Santa party of 1998, German star Didi Hamann was handed a copy of Hitler’s Mein KampfCredit: PA:Press Association
LIVERPOOL, 1990S
The Reds were famous for their fancy dress parties, and over the years legends like Bruce Grobbelaar, Ian Rush and Jan Molby all had fun with their outfits.
But, perhaps with irony on his mind, John Barnes took it a step too far.
According to stories from two of his former team mates, he dressed up as a Ku Klux Klan member for one Christmas party.
Speaking to BT Sport, Grobbelaar revealed about one night out: “There was a fellow in a white outfit with a pointy hat who was John Barnes, (he was) the Ku Klux Klan.”
Absolutely and I’d do it again… and go as Hitler to a fancy dress party.. fancy dress parties are there for you to make fun of people you go as and the kkk and Hitler are figures to be ridiculed so I see no problem in that… I wouldn’t go as kunta kinte with chains on…— John Barnes (@officialbarnesy) January 23, 2020

Another tale recounts Steve McMahon minding the door of an establishment, when he was confronted by a man wearing a white sheet.
“You can’t come in like that. John Barnes is in there,” McMahon said, although the England legend wasn’t.
“No,” said the man pulling off his hood. “He’s in here.”
John Barnes once dressed up as Ku Klux Klan member, according to Liverpool legend Bruce GrobbelaarCredit: Getty – Contributor More