Chelsea midfielder Deco has once again reiterated his desire to return to Brazil once his contract at Stamford Bridge ends in 2011. The diminutive playmaker, who took Portuguese citizenship in 2002 despite being born in Sao Paolo, moved to London from Barcelona in 2008 but has made clear that commitments, including charity work, will see him head back to the country of his birth.
Deco has been used sparingly by the Chelsea coaching staff since the departure of Luiz Felipe Scolari six months after his arrival, but with the proven quality to change any match he is still viewed as a useful option when injuries take their toll at the west London club. Still a key component of the Portuguese national side the midfielder will showdown against Brazil at this summer’s World Cup.
Speaking to FIFA.com about his plans for life after Chelsea, the 2004 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year revealed:
“I’m going to go back and live in Brazil for personal reasons, because my family’s there and I’ve been in Europe for 13 years now. I’ve got a huge amount of affection for Portugal and the city of Porto in particular, where I’ve got a house, but I was born in Brazil and my family is there, as is my social project the Deco Institute, in Indaiatuba.
“I want to go back and that’s what I’ll do when my Chelsea contract runs out in 2011. And if I’m fit enough to do a job for a Brazilian team then I’ll come back and play too.”
It is uncertain whether Chelsea will try and cash in on Deco this summer rather than let him leave on a free, although with the player hinting that he could retire within the next 18 months the London side would probably not receive particularly lucrative offers.
Deco has been used sparingly by the Chelsea coaching staff since the departure of Luiz Felipe Scolari six months after his arrival, but with the proven quality to change any match he is still viewed as a useful option when injuries take their toll at the west London club. Still a key component of the Portuguese national side the midfielder will showdown against Brazil at this summer’s World Cup.
Speaking to FIFA.com about his plans for life after Chelsea, the 2004 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year revealed:
“I’m going to go back and live in Brazil for personal reasons, because my family’s there and I’ve been in Europe for 13 years now. I’ve got a huge amount of affection for Portugal and the city of Porto in particular, where I’ve got a house, but I was born in Brazil and my family is there, as is my social project the Deco Institute, in Indaiatuba.
“I want to go back and that’s what I’ll do when my Chelsea contract runs out in 2011. And if I’m fit enough to do a job for a Brazilian team then I’ll come back and play too.”
It is uncertain whether Chelsea will try and cash in on Deco this summer rather than let him leave on a free, although with the player hinting that he could retire within the next 18 months the London side would probably not receive particularly lucrative offers.
No comments:
Post a Comment