The Brazilian was as soon as the costliest participant on the planet however he by no means realized to make the very best use of his field of methods.
On this period of gross monetary inequality in soccer, it is laborious to think about a world during which a membership like Actual Betis had been in a position to break the world switch report.
However that’s precisely what occurred in 1998 when the mid-table Liga aspect spent an eye-watering £21.5 million ($24m) on a Brazilian left winger with a field of methods to envy.
The story of Denilson is a well-known one in soccer. One among unfulfilled expertise, wasted potential and, maybe, the pursuit of cash over sporting excellence.
On his day, he was untouchable – able to manipulating the ball to his will and placing the concern of God into the world’s greatest defenders with a devastating mix of power, ability and pace.
Boil him all the way down to his stats, although, and he couldn’t look farther from somebody who was as soon as the costliest participant on the planet.
His story started at Sao Paulo the place his precocious expertise was sufficient to earn a senior Brazil call-up in 1996 on the age of 19.
After additional catching the attention at Le Tournoi and the 1997 Copa America – the place he netted his nation’s opener in a 3-1 victory over Bolivia within the closing – he went on to say the Golden Ball on the 1997 Confederations Cup.
Up to now, so good.
Denilson then step-overed his manner into the 1998 World Cup squad and was tipped, by Ronaldo no much less, to star on the event.
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It didn’t fairly work out like that, although, even when the 20-year-old did characteristic in each sport together with the ultimate, which Brazil misplaced 3-0 to France.
Beginning simply as soon as – a group-stage defeat to Norway the place he crossed for Bebeto to nod house – Denilson confirmed flashes of his plain expertise in the course of the competitors, particularly in opposition to the event hosts.
Launched as a half-time sub in opposition to France, he instantly bundled previous a bunch of gamers, exhibiting physics-defying shifts of course and lightning fast toes. He even kissed the highest of the bar with a trademark highly effective drive along with his left foot.
Nevertheless, one passage on the Stade de France neatly summed up the popularity that he discovered tough to shake throughout his enjoying days.
Choosing the ball up by the left touchline, Denilson discovered himself tightly marked by Lilian Thuram.
An outrageous round-the-back drag created some separation between him and the defender, however as a substitute of firing off a shot or cross, he simply needed to throw in a number of extra step-overs earlier than turning again into hassle.
Little doubt his nearly comical lack of a proper foot – a flaw that may hang-out him in Europe – contributed to his choice to attempt extra methods too.
All of it ended with a meek cross that was simply lower out by the France backline.
This was Denilson throughout. He’d hold you on the sting of your seat along with his brilliance, earlier than thrusting you firmly again in frustration after a poor choice within the closing third.
Regardless of an finally unsuccessful World Cup, Betis didn’t waver of their dedication to deliver him to Europe.
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Such was their confidence in his sky-high ceiling, they even handed him a 10-year contract. There was to be no decade of Brazilian dominance in Andalusia, although. Removed from it.
The numbers he posted in his maiden season in Spain make grim studying: two objectives in 35 La Liga appearances.
Marketing campaign quantity two was even worse, with Denilson failing to forestall Betis’ relegation in a wierd marketing campaign which additionally noticed Sevilla and Atletico Madrid demoted, Actual Madrid end fifth and Deportivo La Coruna win the title.
Regardless of these struggles at membership stage he continued to characteristic – though primarily as a sub – at worldwide stage.
Unable to withstand Denilson’s enduring attraction, Luiz Felipe Scolari even chosen him for the 2002 World Cup.
Meagre returns didn’t stop Scolari regularly turning to him as an ‘affect’ sub all through the event – like that enchanting however unreliable ex-partner that you simply simply can’t appear to chop out of your life, although you’d be higher off with out them.
His most memorable contribution to Brazil’s World Cup redemption got here within the semi-finals in opposition to Turkey. Introduced on within the closing levels along with his aspect 1-0 up, he produced one of the vital chaotic cameos of the competitors.
A few of his greatest/worst bits included failing to lob a wandering Rustu Recber from simply exterior the field, guiding a totally pointless side-of-the-foot flick to utterly nobody when Brazil had been threatening to attain, and tickling a pee-roller straight into Recber’s grasp when beneath no strain.
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The cream of the crop got here on the stroke of 90 minutes when Denilson maddeningly took the ball to the nook, the place he was finally fouled by Muzzy Izzet, as a substitute of rolling a 10-yard cross throughout the field to the unmarked Luizao – who absolutely would’ve have put the sport to mattress.
As at all times, a person who performed by his personal guidelines.
He would end the event with a winners’ medal, even having fun with a number of seconds within the limelight in the course of the closing, however worldwide appearances can be at a premium thereafter as his profession started its descent into farce.
Denilson went on to see out seven years of his decade-long contract at Betis earlier than leaving in 2005.
An equally ‘meh’ spell at Bordeaux adopted earlier than he departed Europe for Saudi Arabian aspect Al Nassr.
Vietnam and Greece passport stamps appeared in direction of the tail finish of his profession earlier than he suffered the ignominy of being turned down by Gary Megson’s Bolton Wanderers following an unsuccessful trial.
After a interval of silence within the 2010s, Denilson got here out of retirement to play for Ibis – popularly generally known as the worst workforce on the earth. They also have a mascot known as Derrotinha, or Loser in Portuguese.
It was a frankly weird finish to a totally unusual profession that promised a lot however finally delivered so little.
Nonetheless, no less than we’ll at all times have the stepovers.