Ricardinho, the Maestro of Santos
sambafoot.com
Your experience in Europe for Bordeaux in 1997 did not go very well. What went wrong? And was this the reason you returned to Brazil?
[photo=ricardinho.JPG id=102 align=right]Ricardinho
In the truth, people said that my experience in the Europe was not very good because I came straight back to Brazil, after only one year, but I do not attribute the situation to my form at the time. I came back, first, for professional reasons, then there was the chance to play for Corinthians. I was alone in Europe having left my parents and I felt homesick. These two are the main reasons I returned. My experience was good, yes: I played for Bordeaux, an excellent club that has a great infrastructure and I made some friends there, friends that I still have today.
sambafoot.com
What are the factors that make it difficult for Brazilian players to adapt to the French championship?
Ricardinho
I think that there are no factors which make it difficult, look at the Brazilians whom are winning in French soccer. Lyon are a beautiful example of a winning club with four Brazilian players.
sambafoot.com
You played in England in 2004, being some months in Middlesbrough. Was there a specific factor that led to your return to Brazil?
Ricardinho
I had a registration problem. I was contracted in January, but when the club was to register me in the Premier league the transfer window had passed, so I was unable to play. That is why I did not play, simply because I could not. As I would be unable to play until August the next year, almost 7 months without a game and I had ambitions for the World Cup, I had to think about my professional career, I could not be motionless there, waiting. So I decided to come back to Brazil, having the chance to come to a club as big as Santos, where I am very happy.
sambafoot.com
You are considered as one of the best players in Brazil right now. How do you explain the improvements in your game in recent years?
Ricardinho
I find that they are the two factors that contribute to success: to have the chance to play for a quality club and to be able to learn from past experiences.
sambafoot.com
You were recalled for the last World Cup qualifying games, how important to your career was that?
Ricardinho
I was very happy for having been recalled for those games because Brazil possesses a huge amount of quality players. My participation with the national team has been very important for my career. But, I think that the best is yet to come. I prefer to not to think about the World Cup finals next year so that I can concentrate on my game at Santos.
Recommended links:
All about Ricardinho
The Santos card
The Santos pictures taken at the time of our travel to Brazil
Articles published in the special week of Santos in sambafoot.com:
Zito: Experience serving the youth
The triumphs of King Pelé
Santos creator of talents
Vila Belmiro Stadium world famous home of FC Santos
