If you watch Shakhtar Donetsk play Europa Conference League quarter-final against AZ Alkmaar, one thing go shock you. Seven Brazilian players dey for starting line-up. From Alisson Santana wey dem dey call wonderkid, to Isaque Silva wey Manchester City and Liverpool wan sign, na full Samba flavour for Ukraine.
Social media don dey yarn am since. Neal Gardner from Neal Talks Football YouTube channel ask: “Wetin dey with Shakhtar and signing only Brazilian players?” The answer no hard to find. For over twenty years, this Ukrainian club don turn Brazilian talent pipeline to serious business.
According to ESPN statistics, Shakhtar don sign 47 Brazilian players since 2002. Dem score pass 1,000 goals. Na big number, but na the business side sweet pass. The club don sell players like Willian, Fernandinho, Mykhailo Mudryk, Fred and recent one Kevin to Premier League clubs for big money.
Where this Brazilian obsession start from? Many people give credit to club president Rinat Akhmetov. The man don dey board member since 1996. He build Donbass Arena stadium, set up academy, but him love for Brazilian style football na the main thing.
Akhmetov always talk say him want club wey dey play exciting, attacking football. Brazilian players with their flair and quality fit achieve that dream. The late coach Mircea Lucescu wey manage Shakhtar from 2004 to 2016 also push the strategy. Develop young Brazilians, sell dem for profit.
Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkin explain the secret recently. “Dem dey come because dem understand say here we create platform for development,” Palkin tell ESPN. “Dem see examples. Last one na Kevin. Even with war, we sell David Neres to Benfica for €15M. He never play one game for us but we make profit.”
The war in Ukraine don change things small. Palkin say he spend 70% of him time now to convince players to come. He must show where players go live, explain air raid sirens, security issues. But the biggest convincing come from current players. When new players call existing Brazilian players for Shakhtar, dem explain everything.
Right now, Shakhtar get twelve Brazilian players for first-team squad. Young talents like Eguinaldo wey Brazil under-20 international, Kaua Elias and others dey there. Dem know say Shakhtar na stepping stone to top European football.
The Miners Weekly, one Shakhtar fan account, talk say the policy dey work well because players get time to develop. No pressure for immediate results. Na long-term investment wey dey pay off.
Even with war challenges, the Brazilian pipeline never stop. Shakhtar still dey sign new deals. The club don create system wey benefit both sides: young Brazilian players get platform to shine, Shakhtar make money when dem sell dem to bigger clubs.
For Thursday night match against AZ Alkmaar, the Brazilian influence clear. Alisson Santana lead attack, Isaque Silva control midfield. Na the same pattern wey don work for years. Ukrainian club with Brazilian heart.
As Shakhtar continue for Europa Conference League, eyes dey on their Brazilian stars. Which big European club go come for them next? The business model dey work. War or no war, the Samba train for Donetsk never stop.
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