Anderson Talisca: How the 'New Rivaldo' went from Benfica talisman & Chelsea transfer target to Cristiano Ronaldo's perfect partner at Al-Nassr
The Brazilian might just be the best player in the Saudi Pro League right now, but his career could have turned out far differently
Very few casual football fans would have been aware of Anderson Talisca's existence before Cristiano Ronaldo's shock transfer to Al-Nassr in January. Indeed, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's arrival in Saudi Arabia soon sparked an unprecedented European exodus, with other household names such as Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Jordan Henderson also accepting mega-money contracts in the Middle East.
The Pro League hasn't just attracted players who are into the final stretches of their careers, either. Neymar, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Riyad Mahrez and even 21-year-old Spain playmaker Gabri Veiga have also been persuaded to turn their backs on Europe.
The world is now watching as the Saudi game grows at an exponential rate — which has presented Talisca with a unique opportunity. The Brazilian could easily have shrunk into anonymity at Al-Nassr as merely a supporting cast member, existing only to help keep the spotlight on Ronaldo, but has instead made it his mission to show people that he is also a superstar.
The question is, how did a player with Talisca's immense talent go under the radar for so long?
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