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Although Daniel Carvalho is Brazilian, the security guard of Moscow made every Russian proud that he plays in their country. The incredible technique and deceptive moves of the creative player conquered the Russian Premier League this season, helped CSKA win the country's championship gold medals for the second time in three years, and finish the season with three trophies, including the Russian Cup and the UEFA Cup, which the "army men" won splendidly in May.
For Russian football experts, there is no doubt about who is the main creator of such unprecedented successes in the country's football. Vladimir Fedotovas, the legendary CSKA striker and former coach of Moscow's Spartak, is among those who have no doubts: "Carvalho deserves to be named the best in Russia this season. He is a player who can do what is needed on his own. I like clever players, and he is exactly that."
Meanwhile, CSKA coach Valeriy Gazzaev, who trains the Brazilian, also had words of praise for his pupil: "I think Carvalho had a fabulous season. I am convinced that if he continues to play like this, he will be invited to the Brazilian national team. I think it is unfair that Daniel is not on the list of 50 candidates for the Golden Ball. He was the best player in the UEFA Cup final and made an impression in every match he played in Europe."
The cool-headed 22-year-old Carvalho truly played impressively, especially considering that his first season in Russia was marred by injury. In the summer of 2004, the Brazilian arrived in Moscow from the Internacional club, signed a four-year contract, and scored a winning goal in his debut in the Russian Super Cup match, but a serious ankle injury later kept him out of playing for four months. However, by the end of the year, it was already clear that his talent, compared to the experience Russian clubs had with foreign legionnaires in this country, was unmatched. Almost throughout the past decade, there was even a special term in the Russian professional football world – "beach Brazilians", which meant that agents sent low-level foreign players to the country in an attempt to make quick money.
There were few foreigners who stayed in memory, especially due to their attitude towards Russia – a country that was considered too cold, boring, and gray to become a second home for people who loved the sun, "samba," and beaches. There were exceptions as well – Robson, who distinguished himself in Moscow's Spartak team under Oleg Romantsev, and Francisco Lima, who helped Moscow's Lokomotiv club win the 2004 championship. Just like Robson and Lima, one of the main reasons for Carvalho's success is that he manages to live easily and charmingly in the unique but vibrant megapolis that is modern Moscow.
Despite Lima's role in Lokomotiv's victory in last year's Premier League season, it cannot be compared to what D.Carvalho means to CSKA. The best example of his importance would be the recent UEFA Cup match against Marseille that the Brazilian missed due to illness. The CSKA team looked helpless in that match and couldn't do anything without their talented number 7. While some critics say that Carvalho is selfish and holds onto the ball too long, V.Fedotovas disagrees: "To say that is foolish. It does no harm to the team – just look at the attack's completion, who scores goals or makes productive passes. He is technical, can deceive any opponent from a standing position, or running at full speed. His set piece execution is excellent. He can also score goals and make the most important pass – we have a game creator and a sniper combined."
Foreigners in Russia are often portrayed as unwilling to learn the language and adapt to the team. However, for V.Gazzaev, given Carvalho's game, such concerns do not bother the team's fans. "There are no closed groups in the team," Gazzaev recently said in one of his interviews. "Only three Brazilians (Carvalho, Dudu, and V.Love) still don't speak Russian, but they're starting to understand something. Their contracts include a clause that they have to learn the language."
Although a player not learning the language could mean that he won't stay long, Gazzaev is not ready to sell anyone: "Our strategy is to perform well in the Champions League, so we will try to keep all players. However, I think that after one or two years, it will be harder to keep them since a bunch of English, Spanish, and Italian clubs are interested in them."
Returning to Carvalho, he is praised by fans, lacks the best words for journalists, and even his opponents recognize and highly appreciate him. Daniel Carvalho demonstrates the best of what Brazil has to offer and has become a slightly less smiling and greatly underrated version of Ronaldinho outside Russia's borders.
