![[Home]](../../gfx/m_home.gif)
![[Up]](../../gfx/m_up.gif)
![[Mail]](../../gfx/m_mail.gif)
![[Help]](../../gfx/m_help.gif)
Geovanni Deiderson Mauricio Gomez |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(4/1)Attacking midfielder Geovanni became the first Brazilian ever to sign for Manchester City after he was lured back to European football by Sven-Göran Eriksson on 17 July 2007.The 27-year-old arrived on a free transfer and signed a one-year contract with the Citizens. He passed a medical at City’s Carrington training but the signing came to late for him to join the squad on the pre-season tour to Sweden.
Starting his career with Brazilian team Cruzeiro, the 18 year old forward enjoyed a successful loan spell at America playing in the right wing position. After he returned he immediately found his way into the first team of Cruzeiro and was a fan favourite at the Belo Horizonte club until Spanish giants Barcelona made a move for the Brazilian playmaker. Geovanni soon showed his talent in the Spanish La Liga, but gaining a regular place at Nou Camp proved difficult. After spending some time on loan to Benfica, he was signed permanently by the Portuguese club and went on to play 91 games and scored 15 goals.
Geovanni was often put on the flank and because of his speed and flow he is a master at creating chances. Still he himself prefers more to play in a center forward position, or as an attacking midfielder. The striker role was one he often played in during his early years in Brazil, and it was his performances up front the led to Barcelona splashing out £11m to secure his services. After his contract expired in 2005 he opted to return to Brazil and his boyhood team Cruzeiro, but was soon linked with a move back to Europe and after spending 2 weeks on trial with Portsmouth it was Manchester City that was quickest of the pack to get his signature.
Geovanni brings a wealth of Champions League experience with him, having played 5 seasons for Barcelona and Benfica, as well as having four international caps under his belt. He has also scored one goal for Brazil against Bolivia in a friendly in the year 2003, and played in the 2000 Olympics football tournament as well as being a part of Brazil's 2001 Copa America squad. His most memorable goal before signing for City was a diving header that dumped Manchester United out of the Champions League during the group stages in December 2005, and in the first Manchester derby after his arrival he again made the scoresheet in a 1-0 victory at the City of Manchester Stadium.