Birth Date: 8/27/1977
Birth Place: Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
Nationality: Portugal
Height: 175
Weight: 75
Position: Midfielder
Deco Rumours and Transfers
22 10 2007
Italy are dominating the Golden Ball list of 50 candidates with eight players, while Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona each contributed seven names on the list.
- Golden Ball 2007 nominees:
Éric Abidal (Olympique Lyon, FC Barcelona)
Daniel Alves (FC Sevilla)
David Beckham (Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy)
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus Turin)
Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid)
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Petr Cech (Chelsea)
Rogerio Ceni (Sao Paulo)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Deco (FC Barcelona)
Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid)
Diego (Werder Bremen)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Michael Essien (Chelsea)
Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona)
Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
Gennaro Gattuso (Milan)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
Thierry Henry (Arsenal, FC Barcelona)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter)
Filippo Inzaghi (Milan)
Kaka (Milan)
Frederic Kanoute (FC Sevilla)
Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen, Bayern Munchen)
Younis Mahmoud (Algharafa)
Paolo Maldini (Milan)
Florent Malouda (Olympique Lyon, Chelsea)
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic Glasgow)
Guillermo Ochoa (America Mexico)
Andrea Pirlo (Milan),
Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto),
Raul (Real Madrid)
Franck Ribery (Olympique Marseille, Bayern Munchen),
Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors, Villarreal)
Robinho (Real Madrid)
Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Paul Scholes (Manchester United)
Clarence Seedorf (Milan)
Carlos Tevez (West Ham, Manchester United)
Luca Toni (Fiorentina, Bayern Munchen)
Kolo Toure (Arsenal)
Jose Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid, Liverpool)
Francesco Totti (AS Roma)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid)
Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
David Villa (Valencia)
22 10 2007
Barcelona are facing an injury crisis and defender Eric Abidal admits they will need to somehow find a way to cope with the "physical" challenge posed by Rangers.
But Abidal insists the answer is not for manager Frank Rijkaard to push him forward to bulk up the midfield.
Left-back Abidal is fearing another costly defeat, having already been beaten twice on international duty by Scotland in the past 13 months.
"I have played against Scotland for France and we have lost twice," said the 28-year-old former Lyon player.
"They play very aggressive football, it is much more physical."
Barcelona have ruled playmaker Deco out for five weeks, striker Samuel Eto'o is still sidelined, and Yaya Toure, Gianluca Zambrotta, Edmilson and Rafael Marquez will also miss Tuesday's Champions League Group E clash.
They could be light in midfield, in terms of a ball-winner, but Abidal said: "I am a defender, not a midfielder. I am not used to playing in midfield. To be honest, it's not a position I fancy very much. There are players that can cover that area and it is up to the boss to decide which of us will have to do that."
Deco admits Barcelona's players, who visited Scotland on a pre-season tour and played matches against Dundee United and Hearts, may have pushed themselves too hard and paid the price.
He said on www.fcbarcelona.com: "I am no doctor but when we put in a lot of effort and play lots of games you reach the point where your body has hit its limit and that's when injuries occur."
22 10 2007
Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar has warned Barcelona they are "in for a shock" if they consider victory at Ibrox on Tuesday evening to be a formality.
The Catalan giants arrive in Glasgow later today ahead of the Champions League Group E clash.
They and Rangers both have 100% records after two games so far, and Madrid-born Cuellar is determined it will be Walter Smith's side, rather than the team coached by Frank Rijkaard, who preserve their winning run.
Cuellar told the Daily Record: "If Barca think they can just turn up here and win the game they are in for a shock because we are capable of giving them a tough night on Tuesday."
With their rich resources of talent, Cuellar accepts Barcelona will be a big threat to the home side whatever team they send out.
Deco is injured and out for five weeks, but Ronaldinho is expected to be involved despite being short of form lately, while Argentinian Lionel Messi can be unplayable for any defence.
Cuellar said: "Barca have 1,000 good points although we can win the game from our set-pieces and from counter attacks. I know how good they are, particularly Messi, but I still think we will beat them."
21 10 2007
Ronaldinho has been recalled to the Barcelona squad for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash with Rangers.
The Brazilian superstar was left out of Barcelona's squad for Saturday's defeat to Villarreal after returning late from international duty.
Barca boss Frank Rijkaard has decided to recall the classy playmaker for the trip to Glasgow as they look to bounce back from the 3-1 defeat at Villarreal.
The Catalan titans will be without Portuguese ace Deco after he sustained a thigh problem against Villarreal, which is expected to sideline him for up to five weeks.
Samuel Eto'o, Gianluca Zambrotta, Edmilson, Rafael Marquez and Yaya Toure are all still missing for Barca and they have not been included in the 18-man squad for the trip to Scotland.
14 10 2007
Miguel Veloso's agent claims that unnamed English clubs have tabled offers for the Sporting starlet, with Arsenal and Manchester United reportedly the two teams in the hunt.
The Premier League's top two sides have been continuously linked with Veloso in recent weeks and it would appear that one or both of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have now made their interest formal.
The 21-year-old can play in defence but has shone in midfield and played alongside Deco, Maniche and Cristiano Ronaldo when winning his first cap for Portugal in their 2-0 win over Azerbaijan on Saturday.
Having seen both Nani and Ronaldo leave for Manchester United in recent years it looks likley that Veloso could be the latest youngster to depart Sporting as his agent, Paulo Barbosa, claims a Premier League side has been close to matching his £20 million release clause.
'There have been several contacts and several offers from England,' Barbosa told the News of the World.
'I won't name the clubs but one of them was not far from his buy-out clause. If there's agreement from Sporting and the player, it's possible for him to leave. But there's no pressure or desire that it should happen yet.'
05 10 2007
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made six changes to the Portugal squad Friday ahead of two must-win European championship qualifying games.
Scolari, who will be absent from the bench for both games because of a UEFA ban, recalled Ricardo Carvalho of Chelsea and Sporting's Tonel to bolster a defense that conceded late goals in consecutive home draws against Poland and Serbia.
The Brazilian coach dropped Juventus' Tiago Mendes and Armando Petit of Benfica to make way for midfielders Duda of Sevilla and Sporting's Miguel Velosa ahead of games at Azerbaijan on Sept. 13 and Kazakhstan on Sept. 17. Midfielder Raul Mereiles of FC Porto and Stuttgart defender Fernando Meira were also added.
Scolari earned a reduced two-month ban on Thursday for scuffling with defender Ivica Dragutinovic at the end of Portugal's 1-1 draw with Serbia on Sept. 12. Scolari is barred from the bench until Nov. 20, meaning he can return for the team's last Euro 2008 qualifier against Finland on Nov. 21, which he would have missed under an original four-match ban.
Poland leads Group A with 21 points, two ahead of Finland. Portugal is third with 17 points but has played one less game than the top two. Serbia is fourth with 16 points.
Portugal beat both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan 3-0 in the home leg.
Defenders: Miguel Monteiro (Valencia), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Jose Bosingwa (FC Porto), Fernando Meira (Stuttgart), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Tonel (Sporting)
