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‘Ones to Watch’: Leandro Damiao - he actually exists!

It feels like forever since I’ve seen Leandro Damiao play but, if all goes to plan and there’s no last-minute hiccups, that will change in the coming weeks. The burly Brazilian forward finally ended his ‘Will he, won’t he?’ flirtation with Europe by signing on the dotted line for Real Betis. It all seemed dead in the water after his agent said: “Betis have shown a lack of respect to both the player as well as the fans. They [Betis] are no longer our priority.” Two days later his move to the Sevilla-based club was confirmed.

I know for Premier League fans especially he’s become something of an enigma. There was a time, between 2011 and 2013, where he was invariably linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur. These links only appeared in the final few days of each summer and winter transfer window before he disappeared into the shadows for another six months. Some fans even jokingly questioned his existence, believing the football world was trolling them.

Of course the man exists but it appears that once the speculation surrounding him disappeared, so did his form. I won’t lie and tell you I’m an avid follower of the Brazilian league because, bar watching the odd game at 2am in the morning during my student years, I haven’t watched any Brazilian football – not even when Neymar was lighting it up with Santos. However, I have seen Leandro Damiao play and it was actually on British shores, during the 2012 London Olympics.

It’s funny because catching a glimpse of this Brazilian striker was of more interest to me than seeing how Team Great Britain would fare – even more so after Gareth Bale was ruled out. Leandro was superb. He looked like a forward who would fit effortlessly into the Premier League as he blended technical ability with raw power, scoring a remarkable six goals in his country’s six matches. Not surprisingly he was the top scorer in the competition but couldn’t help Brazil claim the gold medal. He was 22-years-old with the world at his feet. Then it all came crashing down.

His protracted move to Spurs fell through as both sides refused to blink first. The London outfit waited until the final few days to test the water with a bid, knowing Internacional’s desire to sell, while the Brazilian club stalled the move in the hope of another side initiating a bidding war. In the end it was the player who lost out as he saw his European dream crushed and that disappointment had a lasting effect, one which he’s still not quite recovered from.

Despite his impressive showing at the Olympics with the U23 side, his form for the senior side at international level was poor. He scored a mere three goals in 17 appearances and went missing against the bigger sides. Paulo Freitas, an expert on Brazilian and Latin American football, says the player’s struggles at with the National side forced him into changing his style, which actually ended up making things even worse: “His form dropped at club level too. The main reason for that was he got injured often but the problem was also compounded by the fact he became over-confident and started to do fancy things – more dribbling, skills, etc –which didn’t come off.”

His drop in form was so drastic that Internacional sold him to Santos, but even a change of scenery couldn’t help rediscover his midas touch in front of goal. His previous reputation and still being relatively young meant Brazilian football wasn’t quite ready to give up on the guy. The reigning league champions, Cruzeiro, brought him in. “His form was good at first but it dropped again once they sold several of their best players and then revamped the side under new coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo,” Paulo adds. I remember seeing Leandro being linked with a move to Atletico Madrid in the 2014 winter transfer window thanks to that brief upturn in form.

Leandro didn’t give up on his dream of a European move and Real Betis made the move to speak with his agent after his contract expired. As can often be the case in Brazil, his situation was complicated by claims of ownership but once free to move and agreeing terms on an 18-month deal he flew into Sevilla to pass a medical. Even then, it wasn’t quite smooth sailing. The director of football at Betis, Eduardo Macia, presented the 18-month deal to the club’s board but they rejected it and instead recommended a 6-month deal that could be extended by the club if it so wished.

While upset at the last minute change Leandro’s dream of playing in Europe meant too much for him to walk away. As with most strikers the biggest concern for Betis fans will be the player recovering his confidence in front of goal. We’ve seen the likes of Roberto Soldado at Tottenham, Fernando Torres at Chelsea and more recently Alvaro Negredo at Valencia all wilt under the pressure of missing chances. He’ll need to be given time to adjust to his new surroundings. With the greatest respect to Betis and their fans he should benefit from being out of the limelight where the pressure, in theory, will be less than at a more established club.

Since 2012 he’s also suffered with muscle injuries, probably due to an irregular playing pattern, so that too would suggest he’ll be eased into the side. “He’s always wanted to play in Europe so motivation to succeed probably won’t be an issue,” according to Paulo. In a new environment where the expectations are low, he could quickly become a crowd favourite if he scores a couple of goals early on. We all know he’s got the talent to.

As for what Real Betis – and European football fans in general – can expect from him, Paulo believes he could turn out to be a very astute purchase. “He’s more of a traditional striker but has the full package: he’s physically strong and, when in form, was a great finisher with his left foot, right foot or in the air. He’s technically very balanced too, as long as he doesn’t try to over-do it.”

There will be plenty of eyes on Real Betis this season to see what Leandro Damiao can do in one of the big European leagues and, at just 26, there’s still a chance he could reach the very top if he replicates the form he showed back in 2012.

You can and should follow Paulo Freitas on Twitter to keep up with everything related to Brazilian football. @Cynegeticus