6. Keirrison
Keirrison is another case of a young, promising Brazilian who wilts under the spotlight of European football. After a successful stint at Cortiba, he achieved a Serie B title and Campeonato Paranaense. In 2008, Keirrison achieved numerous individual feats including Brazilian Serie A top scorer, Best Striker and Best Player. He then moved to fellow Brazilian top tier side Palmeiras, appearing just 7 times and scoring 5 in the league. Due to the continuation of his prolific form, he was linked to many top European sides and inevitably left Brazil to await a new challenge with the Spanish side FC Barcelona. South American football correspondent Tim Vickery commented that the young Brazilian wasn't yet ready for the challenge of European football,
"He's strongly built and finishes well on his right foot. But he's raw, his build-up play is poor, and his left foot needs work. I don't see him as ready for Europe. "
Six months after this comment was made, Keirrison signed for Barca. Just six days into his Barcelona career, he moved on loan to Portuguese giants Benfica for the remainder of the season. This loan spell proved unsuccessful due to the wealth of strikers Benfica already had in their squad - the likes of Oscar Cardoza, Javier Saviola and Weldon. He was the fourth choice striker at the club and this was evident in the lack of appearances during his time in Portugal. With 7 appearances and no goals in all competitions, his time at Benfica was frustrating to say the least and Keirrison himself commented on it two years after:
"We learn from life. Benfica are a big club in Europe, but there is no point in moving to a club with a lot of strikers because it is not by chance that they are there."
Benfica boss Jorge Jesus commented that Keirrison was unlikely to feature in the remainder of the season and his loan spell was ended prematurely in January. Following this, Keirrison was moved to Italian side Fiorentina in a similarly frustrating experience. The loan spell was initially set to last a season and a half but was once again cut short, this time at the end of the 2009-10 season. He was fourth in the pecking order once again due to Fiorentina boss opting to play the likes of Gilardino, Babacar and Jovetic ahead of the Brazilian. The Fiorentina loanee made just a handful of appearances though did manage to score two crucial goals against Roma and Inter. However, this was once again an unproductive loan spell in his hitherto disappointing career. Since these two unproductive tenures, Keirrison has gone on to join two Brazilian first division sides on loan - Santos and Cruzeiro. Although he has managed to score for both sides, Keirrison lacks the prolificacy he showed during his spells in Brazil under Cortiba and Palmeiras. It seems that the two unproductive loans and the fact he has yet to make an appearance for Barcelona has been a real body blow for the young Brazilian's promising career. He is now back at his boyhood club Cortiba on loan until the end of next season, which coincidentally will mark the end of his contract with Barcelona. Whether Barca will renew the contract or not remains to be seen, but that will all depend on whether he can put together a prolific similar to his early days.
Current Status: On loan at Brazilian first division side Cortiba, yet to make an appearance.
What He Could Have Been: First-team player for Barcelona and Brazil international.