“A real coup” – the sad story of Man City record-signing striker who only scored six goals and left for free

“We understand why we were able to get him and I suppose some people would say we were gambling, but he is a player valued at £20m.”

In recent years, Man City fans have become accustomed to seeing their team sign some of the most exciting players in world football. There’s no better place for an ambitious youngster to pursue a career in modern football than the Etihad Stadium, but it wasn’t always that way.

It should not be overlooked that a lot of things changed suddenly after the Abu Dhabi takeover in 2009, but the truth is that things had been moving for several years before that.

In fact, two months before City’s famous takeover, they broke a club record by spending £20m on Brazilian prodigy Jo.

It was a statement signing for Man City as they had to compete with Valencia for his signature, but as you may already know, things did not go as planned.

Jo began his senior professional career at Brazilian giants Corinthians before moving to Europe with Russian club CSKA Moscow two years later. It was in Russia that he enjoyed the most successful period of his entire career, scoring an impressive 44 goals in just 77 appearances for the club, including two against Inter Milan in the Champions League. League.

At just 21 years old, it seems certain Jo will have a successful career with club and country, and attention is on which club he will sign for when he wants to take the next step

There Was He has attracted a lot of interest from Europe’s major leagues, but playing time was the key factor in his decision, an offer unexpectedly stands out more than other offers. City have agreed a record fee with CSKA for his signing, with Mark Hughes delighted to add such a talented striker to a team in need of an added attacking edge.

“He’s a huge talent and a young man with a bright future,” the Welshman said of his first signing with the club. “There’s been a lot of talk about him and a lot of expectations from Brazil for him.

“So with the success he’s had, I think it’s a real coup that we I can take him to the club. . He’s a big guy, has size and ability so I think people will enjoy watching him play. club is going on.He said: “I decided to go to Manchester City because it was one of the clubs that showed the most interest in me, although I also had other offers,” Jo said at the press conference announcing the release. your contract.

“After speaking with the coach, I am very happy. I learned that Manchester City is a club that is moving forward at the moment. We can go far, that is our goal . We thought a lot and decided to go there.” Manchester City for this reason.”

There are high hopes for this talented young striker, but it is also acknowledged that he will need time to adapt to his new environment and the physical demands of the Premier League.

Less than Two months after joining the club, that would change forever as the Abu Dhabi United Investment and Development Corporation completed its takeover., Jo’s compatriot Robinho was signed as a declared his intentions under Chelsea’s nose on deadline day, and the star striker is now part of the old regime before which he barely kicked a ball.

He missed several his first match of the season due to international duty after being included in the medal-winning Brazil squad at the 2008 Summer Olympics, scoring twice against Belgium in the final match.

That didn’t stop Jo from getting an assist on his league debut in the 3-0 away win over Sunderland, scoring twice against Omonia Nicosia in the UEFA Cup, and also scoring a goal. and an assist in a 6-0 loss. of Portsmouth before everything. start going in the wrong direction.

City failed to win any of their next three matches with Jo in the starting lineup, but returned to winning ways when he completely abandoned the team against Stoke. The star striker has scored just one goal in his first nine Premier League appearances, and the club’s coaches are concerned he is struggling to meet the physical demands placed on him. for you.

There might have been more acceptance under the previous owners, but with Man City’s expectations now much higher, Jo doesn’t have time to look good in a Man City shirt. Everton were one of the City sides to outbid this summer to sign the Brazilian striker, and their interest was further piqued when it became clear he would be loaned out for just six months. month after signing the contract.David Moyes said: “The truth is that it didn’t work for him at Manchester City, but there could be a number of reasons for that, such as it takes time for some of the foreign boys to integrate ”. “He might also find the Premier League a bit difficult, but we’re happy to give him a chance, and it would be great if he can show the form he showed in Russia.

“We I understand why we were able to do it.” got him, and I guess some people would say we were taking a gamble, but he’s a 20-year-old player. million pounds. much more favorable for him scoring five goals in 12 appearances for Moyes’s side.

It seemed like a turning point in his wider career, but when City made a Another important move for Roque Santa Cruz at the end of the season, Jo clearly exceeded the requirements.The Brazilian wanted to stay on Merseyside after his first loan spell and got his wish when the two clubs agreed a season-long loan with an option to buy, just a year after he became a permanent signing. Man City’s record.

His second spell with Everton was much less successful. Jo once again struggled to regain his confidence in front of goal, scoring just two goals in 24 appearances for the team, failing to score again in the Premier League.

Jo was already suffering from knee problems when he arrived in Brazil without permission during the Christmas break and was subsequently suspended by Moyes for misconduct.

“Now this may change in the future, but for now it does.Jo returned to Brazil without the football club’s permission. He is back but is currently suspended,” Moyes confirmed.

“I’m disappointed. We love Jo; he is a very nice boy and we are happy to have him. But there must be discipline in all football clubs.He left during a busy period when we were short of players. I found it very difficult so he was suspended from the club.”

There was no way back for him. Jo returned to City following the breach and was immediately loaned to Galatasaray on the very same day.

Jo’s level of performance ultimately wasn’t good enough, but another contributing factor was his self-confessed problems with alcohol during this period.

“I put the drink first, because it takes you to other situations,” Jo revealed in 2016. “For example, I could get a drink here at home, or two, or three, with my wife and friends.

“Then, if I did not play, I began to drink at home. And then I’d go out. [Alcohol] makes you do things you did not want to do. After a while you find yourself in a place you do not want to be.

“I began to drink, drink, drink, and I wanted to drink until morning. I went out in the morning and wanted to go to another bar.

“Then later, when I stopped, I thought, What am I doing? Where am I? My wife is at home… I told her I wouldn’t do it anymore, but after a while, two days, I did it again.”

Thankfully, this dark period of his life is behind him now, with Jo labelling himself ‘100 per cent improved’ since he gave up alcohol altogether.

Yet again, things didn’t work out in Turkey. The Brazilian netted just three goals during his time in Istanbul before he returned to City, when the most unexpected thing happened: he got another chance.

Hughes has been sacked and Roberto Mancini is now in charge. He has his own ideas but is happy to give Jo one last chance to prove herself at the club.

He scored in his first pre-season match against Portland Timbers and surprisingly kept the purple shirt with goals against New York Red Bulls, Borussia Dortmund and his old fans Valencia.

Jo struggled for consistency but scored in cup competitions against Salzburg and West Bromwich Albion, as well as a memorable goal against Juventus in the Europa League.

There was once again the possibility of a loan move in January, but Mancini decided to keep him at the club as they looked for a memorable end to the season.

City would get that with a famous FA Cup win over Stoke, and although Jo wasn’t in the squad for the showpiece final, he still picked up a winner’s medal after 5 appearances from previous rounds.

That summer he finally left the club, after scoring just six goals in 41 games, returning to Brazil in the hope of getting his career back on track.

Things didn’t go well at Internacional but a year later he found a place alongside his good friend Ronaldinho at Atletico Mineiro. There, he helped the team win the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history and scored in the final, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer.

It was this success that saw him reinstated to the Brazil squad for both the Confederations Cup and their home World Cup a year later, though he’d never play for them again after their humiliating end to the tournament.

After that, there were spells in the UAE, China, and Japan, as well as two further spells with boyhood Brazilian side Corinthians. It was during the second season that he enjoyed the best of his career when he picked up top scorer, player of the year, and team of the year as the side won the league title.

His third, however, was heaped with controversy. Jo went to a resort during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil, purposely wore green boots that alluded to fierce rivals Palmeiras, and missed training on a number of occasions before his contract was terminated.

Earlier this year, he signed for Saudi Club Al-Jabalain and just five days later, they announced they had released him from his contract after just one appearance. A month later, he retired from professional football for good.

While his time in England certainly did not go to plan, Jo will still be able to look back fondly on his career as a Brazilian boy who conquered his home continent and played at a home World Cup.