Will’s comments were published in City A.M., 16 September 2024, and can be found here.

“Investment in football from the Americas has grown substantially in recent years, with a move to Brazil’s top flight becoming an increasingly viable and profitable route for players.

“There is a strong argument to say that the standard of clubs (facilities, funds, squad quality and academies) in Europe is still growing and attracting the best global talent. However, as a result, European leagues are becoming increasingly saturated, with players now looking to other leagues to play their football and progress their careers.
 
“The growth of the Saudi Pro League is also hard to ignore. As noted recently by Ronald Koeman in relation to the moves of Steven Bergwijn to Al-Ittihad and Memphis Depay to Corinthians, the former effectively “closed the book” on his international career whilst the latter remains available for selection. Moving to Brazil is therefore an attractive option for players who want a move away from Europe but to keep their international aspirations alive.

“Importantly, Brazil’s Série A clubs have experienced a period of growth in revenue since 2010 which has meant that they have been able to offer higher wages than they had historically for the right players.

“Larger European clubs are also increasingly looking at Brazilian leagues for potential talent. For a young player or a player struggling to get minutes at a European club, playing in Brazil could therefore be a good opportunity to get some game time in a competitive league, with the view to hopefully returning to Europe later in their career.

“With football being the number one sport in Brazil, a move to Brazil is a chance for a player to broaden their own fan base, social media following and personal brand which could lead to brand deals and image rights related work.”

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