I thought it was interesting how Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Rivaldo want to be "stars" again right around the time of the 2010 WC.
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Brazilian stars keen to cash in on the Coast
David Lewis
September 3rd, 2008
FIRST it was Cafu, now fellow fading Brazilian World Cup stars Roberto Carlos and Rivaldo have also signalled their desire to be anointed the headline acts of Gold Coast United's A-League adventure.
Agents representing the pair have dropped their names to Gold officials as possible marquee, or guest player, signings for 2009-2010.
But wary head coach Miron Bleiberg is in no hurry to doff his cap and race to the altar to betroth his ardour for either.
With a halo of wealth hovering over the club in the form of its billionaire owner Clive Palmer, its gravitational field is proving irresistible to agents from across the world.
``It's true that Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos are keen to talk to us (through their representatives) and that shows the sort of impact being awarded a licence has had for us,'' said Bleiberg. ``But these so-called marquee players are not necessarily my priority. At the moment I am more concerned with building the spine of the team.
``My drive will be what is best for the club player wise, the marketing department will look who is most likely to attract crowds and Clive Palmer will look at who is best value for money. Any decisions will be a combination of all three.''
Roberto Carlos, now 35, is coming to the end of his latest contract with Turkish giants Fenerbahce and is looking for one final pay day.
The most exciting attacking left-back in the world in his pomp, he scored 71 goals in 584 games for Real Madrid where he also won four Spanish titles and three Champions League crowns. A World Cup winner alongside Rivaldo in 2002, he also played in the 1998 World Cup final and is renowned for the ferocity and velocity of his free-kicks as much as he is his shiny shaven head.
Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira, 36, a former World and European Player of the Year, also spent his heyday in Spain, with Barcelona, where he won two league titles.
The scorer of 36 goals in 86 appearances for Brazil, he's renowned for his dynamism, athleticism and sometimes his cynicism.
Bleiberg added: ``I am not sure what sort of money they want. At the moment nobody has talked numbers.
``Whatever happens we are not in the business of becoming a retirement village for stars of the past.
``We want players who can contribute on and off the park and are not here just to squeeze the lemon as much as they can.''
Meanwhile, the club's interest in comeback keeper Mark Bosnich, who is currently with Coast Mariners, is tempered by the fact that Bleiberg has two other names ahead of him on his shopping list.
Source:
Brazilian stars keen to cash in on the Coast - Soccer News - Gold Coast, QLD, Australia