Deco: Back To Brazil

It is official: FC Chelsea and Portugal midfield player Deco is going to play for Fluminese in Brazil, according to both clubs. Deco’s name is no longer in the first team squad and Stamford Bridge has issued a statement confirming yesterday’s claim by Fluminese that the player has returned to his country of origin.

Photo: Deco: Back To Brazil

Anderson Luis de Souza (Deco), 32, awarded with the Portuguese Ordem de Dom Henrique, Brazilian, naturalized Portuguese, has returned to Brazil after a 13-year career in Europe’s top clubs which saw him also play 75 games for Portugal (5 goals).

The start to Deco’s career was unorthodox: in Corinthians, where he played just 2 games (1996-7) before moving to SL Benfica (1997) (no games), was loaned to Alverca (1997-8) where he played 32 games (13 goals), then loaned to Salgueiros (1998-9), where in 12 games he scored twice. It was in this third club in the city of Oporto that he was spotted by FC Porto’s famous scouts and was transferred to the Antas Stadium, (FC Porto, 1999-2004) where in 154 games he scored 32 goals and was projected into the Portuguese national team in 2003 after naturalization.

At the international level, he participated in two World Cups and two UEFA Euro Championships.

In 2004, he moved to FC Barcelona (2004-2008; 113 games and 11 goals) and from there to Chelsea FC (2008-2010; 43 games and 5 goals).

Rumours that he did not adapt well to English football do not take into the account the fact that in his two seasons there, he was affected by a variety of muscular problems which sidelined him from the first team.

Fluminese, in Rio de Janeiro, confirm that Deco has signed a two-year deal with the club.

Deco’s titles include the European Champions League (2), UEFA Cup (Liga Europa) (1), Portuguese Championship (3), Spanish Championship (2), English Premier League (1), S. Paulo Championship (1) in 1997, Portuguese Super-Cup (2), Spanish Super-Cup (2), English Community Shield (1), Portuguese Cup (3), English FA Cup (2)

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY

PRAVDA.Ru