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With Brazil among the favourites to win the 2022 World Cup, it’s no surprise that Premier League teams are snapping up their players.
There’s plenty of hope that the record five-time winners could win their first trophy since 2002, with stability in manager Tite and the pressure finally off Neymar’s shoulders with top class teammates all around him.
Last year was a learning experience for the South Americans, who lost their home Copa America to fierce rivals Argentina, but claimed gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
And now it’s all coming together, as long as big money moves by English sides don’t ruin their players’ form or confidence…
An estimated £350million has been spent by Premier League sides on Brazilian players this summer and their impact is already being felt.
Gabriel Jesus, who will be integral to Brazil’s chances of success this winter, has started life as an Arsenal player with a level of confidence that looks insatiable.
A £45m move from champions Manchester City already looks to be one of the best deals in Europe this season with the 25-year-old scoring two goals and registering three assists in just four games.
Richarlison, who created headlines with a controversial piece of samba skill at the weekend, has been deemed important enough that Tottenham boss Antonio Conte was happy to shell out £60m for his services.
The fee raised some eyebrows with Spurs already possessing one of the league’s best front threes, but the former Everton man’s vital goals and tireless work rate for Brazil at the Olympics made the reason clear.
Elsewhere, five-time Champions League-winner Casemiro saw his mere presence at Old Trafford help Manchester United to a shock 2-1 victory over Liverpool, kick-starting the Erik ten Hag era.
Real Madrid got £60m for the serial winner, but with plenty of time left on the clock at the age of 30, his masterful performances in defensive midfield could be the difference for both United and Brazil.
In fact, Ten Hag is so keen on what Brazilians can bring to his squad that he’s made Antony the third most expensive signing in Premier League history, reuniting the manager and player after two years together in the Eredivisie.
Some have questioned the wisdom of the £85m deal, but to question Ten Hag would also be to doubt Tite, who sees just as much in the winger that he will be a regular feature in Qatar.
Elsewhere, West Ham have spent a club record £51m to get Lucas Paqueta from Lyon, while Aston Villa brought in Diego Carlos from Sevilla, and made their loan for Philippe Coutinho permanent for £17m.
Both Coutinho and Paqueta are starters for Brazil, and now have the Premier League as their proving ground ahead of what could turn out to be the biggest tournament of their lives.
Antony, Ajax to Manchester United for £85m
Casemiro, Real Madrid to Manchester United for £60m
Richarlison, Everton to Tottenham for £60m
Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City to Arsenal for £45m
Lucas Paqueta, Lyon to West Ham for £51m
Diego Carlos, Sevilla to Aston Villa for £26m
Philippe Coutinho, Barcelona to Aston Villa for £17m
Andreas Pereira, Manchester United to Fulham for £10m
Renan Lodi, Atletico Madrid to N. Forest £4.7m loan fee
Marquinhos, Sao Paulo to Arsenal for £3m
Neto, Barcelona to Bournemouth free transfer
Ederson Moraes, Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Bruno Guimaraes are just a few more of the Premier League’s Brazilian stars to have become integral to their sides while Thiago Silva, Joelinton and Andreas Pereira continue to go under the radar.
Not only will Tite be thrilled when he turns on the Premier League on a Saturday morning in Brazil, but Neymar will be too, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward previously hinting this World Cup could be his last, he now has the talent in England to make it a winning one.
And if that’s not enough to end two decades of hurt for the country that made the game beautiful? Well they’ve got Real Madrid’s trio of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Eder Militao to help them over the line.
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