'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The country that made the world fall in love with the Beautiful Game, Brazilian players have always been coveted by the world’s elite football clubs.
These players who were raised in the finest traditions of Jogo Bonito have always figured prominently in the thinking of clubs across the world from Asia to Europe and even Africa.
Even though the Brazilian national team failed to match expectations at the just concluded World Cup in Russia, it has not diminished the appeal they hold for European and Asian clubs.
Hardly a day goes by without the mention of a Brazilian player being linked to a big money move to one of Europe’s or Asian elite sides.
After all, the most expensive player in the history of football is Neymar (€220m to PSG from Barcelona), while Philippe Coutinho is the third most expensive (€120 million to Barcelona from Liverpool).
A lot of Brazilian players have already moved for huge sums in this window (Paulinho’s re-signing on loan by Guangzhou Evergrande could eventually cost the Chinese outfit €50m).
Over £300m has already been spent on Brazilian talents in this window: Vinicius Jnr. to Real Madrid for £40m, Fabinho to Liverpool from AS Monaco for £40m among others.
Here is a look at 5 top Brazilians who have changed clubs in this window and what to expect from them:
#5 Arthur Melo (Gremio to FC Barcelona)
The central midfielder finally joined Barcelona last month in a £35.5m deal after it was announced in January.
The highly-rated midfielder has finally made the move to Europe even though he has been on the radar of scouts for a while now.
The 21-year-old took the option of honing his game at Brazilian Serie A club Gremio before jumping to make a move to Europe. It was a decision that has helped him become a better player.
A central midfielder by profession, Arthur is cut from a cloth different from the gaggle of central midfielders Brazil has produced in recent years.
The country of midfield geniuses like Zico, Socrates among others has seemingly become the nation of choice for defensive and box-to-box midfielders and not deep-lying playmakers or registas.
Arthur is more similar to the Spanish central midfielders like Andres Iniesta or Thiago Alcantara in the way he seeks to dictate play and control the tempo.
Set to be Don Andres’ replacement, the youngster may not immediately get into the Barca First XI next season but given how his style fits into Barcelona’s tiki-taka ethos, he is definitely going to have a part to play in Ernesto Valverde’s team.
#4 Richarlison (Watford to Everton)
Playing in his first season in European football following a £11.5m move to the Premier League side from Brazilian club Fluminense, the 21-year-old has shown that with the right coaching and in the right environment, he can thrive and do more.
His pace, strength, elusiveness, and skills bamboozled the league in the first half of the season as defences couldn’t cope with him in the early, heady days of Marco Silva at Vicarage Road.
Like the rest of his teammates, he faded badly as the season went on. Following his £50m move to Everton to be reunited with coach Silva, it is expected that the youngster will revert to his form the beginning of last season
His pace and ability to be effective on either flank would offer The Toffees an outlet for stretching teams. With Gylfi Sigurdsson and other creators in the team, having a player like him could prove a masterstroke.
#3 Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk to Manchester United)
A star turn that was linked for a long time to United’s city rivals; it came as something of a surprise when he chose the Red Devils over the Cityzens.
The 23-year-old Brazilian defensive midfielder was central to the quick pressing play which Shakhtar's manager Rui Fonseca favours. More often than not, he is charged with breaking up play and intercepting opposition attacks.
However, like his counterpart at City; Fernandinho, he is not just a destroyer but is also just as creative as well. He is renowned for his lightning quick speed which he uses effectively to join the attack and create chances as well as get a few goals; his ability to make the right decision swiftly is phenomenal.
Fred isn't the tallest player standing at just 169cm and seems to be better suited to play in an attacking position. However, he has proven to be brilliant at defending and will likely be used as a foil to allow Paul Pogba the licence to go forward.
A £52m signing, Fred’s set-piece abilities will also be crucial for Jose Mourinho’s team as the Red Devils will look to maximize its height advantage.
#2 Malcom (Bordeaux to FC Barcelona)
Perhaps one of the most dramatic transfers in this window, this was one that came out of the blue (literally).
It had been widely expected that the 21-year-old left footed winger was on his way to Italian club AS Roma. It seemed all the appropriate agreements had been done and all that was left was the medical and official signing.
However, Barcelona led by embattled president Josep Bartomeu took advantage of the lack of officially signed documents and offered Bordeaux and the player improved terms which were accepted.
The winger has been one of the hottest properties in European football and it is easy to see why. Pacy, intelligent and capable of playing in multiple positions, Malcom was one of the best players in Ligue 1 last season.
Signed for a rumoured fee £36.5m plus add-ons, his combination with fullbacks Nelson Semedo or Sergi Roberto promises to add more pace and guile to Barcelona’s right flank. His combination plays with Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele and Coutinho also means the Blaugrana’s attack will be infinitely faster.
#1 Alisson Becker (AS Roma to Liverpool)
The record transfer for a goalkeeper (Liverpool paid £66.5m), Alisson is one player whose performances will be greatly scrutinized.
The Brazilian number one has had a stellar rise to the top. Originally signed for £6m from Brazilian club Internacional by the Roman club, he was understudy to Polish international Wojciech Szczesny in the 2016/2017 season.
Following the Pole’s move to Juventus, the Brazilian took over as Roma’s first choice and he had a blinder of a season.
His performances for his club and the Selecao of Brazil convinced Liverpool and its manager Jurgen Klopp that he was the right choice to replace the error-prone Lloris Karius.
Alisson is a goalkeeper who is vocal and not shy about commanding his area. It is expected that alongside record defensive signing Virgil Van Dijk, they would both bring order and calm to a Liverpool backline that has been poor for a while now.
His reflexes, agility, passing abilities and pace off his line make him the perfect candidate to keep the goal in Klopp’s gegenpressing system which is heavily reliant on players’ constant movement.
