Lisbon (AFP)
From pioneer Joel Camargo in the early 1970s to Neymar, Brazilian players have marked the 50 years of PSG's existence, writing some of the most beautiful pages in the history of the French club, like the epic in the League champions in Lisbon.
By scoring in extremis the equalizing goal against Atalanta Bergamo (2-1) in the quarter-final of C1, then by opening the way to the final of the 2020 edition against Leipzig with a new goal in the semi-final (3 -0), Marquinhos has perpetuated a tradition as ancient as it is unique.
After Rai, Ronaldinho, or even Thiago Silva, "Marqui" has become one of the many Brazilians to have entered the legend of the Parisian club. In total, they are even 31 to have donned the red and blue jersey.
Either the most represented player nationality in the history of PSG after the French!
If only three Brazilian players landed in the capital during the first two decades of the club's existence, it was the start of the Canal + era with Portuguese coach Artur Jorge which accelerated the auriverde wave in the early 1990s.
- Rai, first idol -
"It was the arrival of Ricardo (in 1991) which led to that of Geraldao and then mine. It worked well, it opened the doors!", Told AFP Valdo, the first Brazilian recruit in scope of the PSG (1991-1995).
"For example, when PSG told us that they still needed a Brazilian player, I proposed Rai. I told them: + I'm sure it will work. + Now this story continues: there is Neymar, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos ... ", he lists, without forgetting Leonardo, the former player (1996-1997) who became sports director (2011-2013, then back in 2019).
Rai (1993-1997) is indeed more than a good pick. "Everything changed after him," said even Raphael De Angeli, correspondent in France for Brazilian media Globo, in charge of PSG coverage.
The 1994 world champion becomes the first Brazilian idol of the Park, participating in particular in the five consecutive semi-finals in the European Cup, with the victory in the Cup of Cups (1996) as the highlight. The only European trophy appearing, for the time being, on the PSG list.
From Ronaldinho (2001-2003), entered in the mythical history of the "clasicos" against OM thanks to several anthology performances, to Nenê (2010-2013), the search for new Brazilian talents becomes an obsession among recruiters Parisians.
But the Brazilian PSG sector is not always crowned with success. Like the mysterious Vampeta or Everton Santos, the most resounding flop in its history.
Nicknamed "Jean-Claude Robignaud" for having dared to compare himself to the ex-prodigy Robinho when he arrived in the winter of 2008 in a PSG in crisis, the attacking midfielder only plays 3 games and will be loaned until the end of his contract ...
- "Different magic" -
How to explain, however, such a reciprocal attraction?
"We Brazilians love football too much! I believe that Parisians too, especially players who have a different magic", explained to AFP Thiago Silva, emblematic captain of the 2010s of PSG, just before the start of the "Final 8" in Lisbon.
"The city of Paris, which is fantastic, is also playing a lot," adds Valdo.
The arrival of Qatari owners in 2011, who base their project on the prestige of the City of Light, further fuels this passion. Maxwell, Thiago Silva, Alex, Lucas Moura, David Luiz, Marquinhos, Dani Alves, Neymar ... Brazil is at the heart of five-star recruitment.
Despite the royal welcome and the Eiffel Tower illuminated in his honor, Neymar, recruited as the record sum of EUR 222 million from Barcelona, took a long time to acclimatize to Parisian life and give the full measure of his talent.
One game away from winning a historic C1, his marriage with Paris is however already successful at the marketing level, three years after the "transfer of the century".
"After the arrival of Neymar in 2017, the image of PSG changed in Brazil, says Raphael De Angeli. The children decided to support their idol's club, whereas before it was more Real Madrid, Barcelona , AC Milan or Inter who were the most popular. They even ask their parents to buy the PSG jersey ".
Proof that the love story between PSG and Brazil seems set to last.
© 2020 AFP