Why Brazil's stars love playing in the Premier League?
One of the first moves of Dorival Junior when appointed Brazil's head coach was to plan a trip to England.
Over the space of a week or so in February, he attended five games and visited the training centres of Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Fulham, where he spoke to fellow coaches.
And when the time arrived to select his first squad for friendlies against England on Saturday, and against Spain three days later, Dorival named 10 players from the Premier League.
Gabriel Magalhaes, who has since withdrawn from the squad, Andreas Pereira, Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, Douglas Luiz, Joao Gomes, Lucas Paqueta, Gabriel Martinelli, Richarlison and Ederson, who has since been injured, were all chosen.
There might easily have been more, because fitness issues forced him to leave out Alisson, Joelinton, Gabriel Jesus and Joao Pedro.
It reinforces the feeling that Brazil's best have fallen in love with the Premier League. There are 33 players competing in the competition this season, and it has replaced Italy's Serie A and Spain's La Liga as the destination of choice.
It is a mark of quality. 'Like the NBA of football,' as Brighton's Joao Pedro tells Mail Sport. 'The best players, most of them are here and that makes it the most difficult league. That's why I like it so much. Every player aims to be here because of the level and the players involved.'
The feeling appears mutual. English clubs scour the Brazilian market in search of the best young talent and more could be on the way, including Fluminense's André and São Paulo's Pablo Maia, both named in Dorival's squad for Saturday's friendly at Wembley.
'I heard about an offer from an English club, and then another club inquired about a loan deal two windows
Read on m.allfootballapp.com
