South American Teams (Players) playing in Europe?

Players from the 2002 Santos team, which won the national champions, currently playing in Europe:

Alex (Chelsea)
Léo (Benfica)
Elano (Man City)
Renato (Sevilla)
Diego (Bremen)
Robinho (Real Madrid)

I dunno if i have missed any players out?

Im just looking for more examples of this, if anyone can help.

It was only about 3 weeks ago when i found out that Elano played for Santos, in the same team as Alex, Diego and Robinho.

Sao Paulo - Campeonato Paulista Champions 2002

Ricardo Kaka (AC Milan)
Julio Baptista (Real Madrid)
Juliano Belletti (Chelsea)
Fabio Simplicio (Palermo)

2003 Copa Libertadores Champion: Boca Juniors

Roberto Abbondanzieri (Getafe)
Nicolás Burdisso (Inter)
Clemente Rodríguez (Espanyol)
Carlos Tevez (Manchester United)

Ricardo Oliveira had a brief stint at Santos around 2002-2003. Scored many goals in the CL.

blehh wrote:Ricardo Oliveira had a brief stint at Santos around 2002-2003. Scored many goals in the CL.

he was topscorer in the season they reached the final and lost to Boca i remember. however i was never that impressed with him.

Batman wrote:Players from the 2002 Santos team, which won the national champions, currently playing in Europe:

Alex (Chelsea)
Léo (Benfica)
Elano (Man City)
Renato (Sevilla)
Diego (Bremen)
Robinho (Real Madrid)

I dunno if i have missed any players out?

Im just looking for more examples of this, if anyone can help.

It was only about 3 weeks ago when i found out that Elano played for Santos, in the same team as Alex, Diego and Robinho.

Léo is a quality player. One of the best buys that Benfica made in the last years

I remember teams from the 80's like River Plate. Teams were so "loaded" goalies such as Goicochea (remember him!) was Pumpido's sub.

River Plate: Pumpido, Gordillo, Ruggeri, Gallego, Beto Alonso, Alzamendi, Funes...

River or any other team will never assemble so much talent again. European clubs come quickly for them.

Or São Paulo in early 90's: Zetti, Cafú, Palinha, Toninho Cerezo, Leonardo, Raí, Muller...WOW!

That São Paulo team was the last formidable South American team. European teams sign all the talent ever since.

For instance, Cruzeiro had an awesome team as well in 1997 with Dida in goal and Ronaldo scoring for fun in attack. PSV signed Ronaldo before Cruzeiro were to play Dortmund in the Intercontinental Final.

Talking about River Plate:

* Marcelo Salas (El Matador) (1996~1998, 2003~2005)
* Celso Ayala
* Alberto García Aspe (1996~1997)
* Juan Pablo Angel (Angelito) (1997~2000)
* Julio Cruz (El Jardinero) (1996~1997)
* Juan Pablo Sorín (Juampi) (1996~1999)
* Santiago Solari (El Indiecito) (1996~1999)
* Roberto Trotta (Cabezón) (1997, 1999~2001)
* Martín Cardetti (El chapulín) (1997~1998, 1999~2002)
* Javier Saviola (El Conejo) (1998~2001)
* Eduardo Coudet (El Chacho) (1999~2002, 2003~2004)
* Pablo Aimar (El Payaso) (1996~2000)
* Marcelo Gallardo (El Muñeco)
* Andrés D'Alessandro (El Cabezón) (2000~2003)
* Fernando Cavenaghi (El Torito) (2001~2004)
* Javier Mascherano (El Jefecito) (2003~2005)
* Luis González (Lucho) (2002~2005)
* Germán Lux (Poroto) (2001~2006)
* Gonzalo Higuaín (Pipita) (2005-2006)

Im not sure about Sao Paolo being the last great team what about the River Plate team in 1996 and 1997?

Along with the players listed above it also included a certain Enzo Francescoli. Also missing on that list is Crespo, Burgos, Astrada, Almeyda and Hernan Diaz.

Those players along side Salas, Sorin, Gallardo, Aimar and Ayala make one hell of a team.

If that does not count as a great team we will probably never see one again in South America, because as you say they are all signed up by european clubs after one good season.

Cricky wrote:Im not sure about Sao Paolo being the last great team what about the River Plate team in 1996 and 1997?

Along with the players listed above it also included a certain Enzo Francescoli. Also missing on that list is Crespo, Burgos, Astrada, Almeyda and Hernan Diaz.

Those players along side Salas, Sorin, Gallardo, Aimar and Ayala make one hell of a team.

If that does not count as a great team we will probably never see one again in South America, because as you say they are all signed up by european clubs after one good season.

Yes, that River team was awesome too. They only lost to arguably the best Juventus team ever led by Zidane, Deschamps, Montero, Jugovic, and Del Piero. Both River and Juve were evenly matched.