Fútbolita

Awww, there’s nothing like staying true to your roots. Just ask President Lula! He personally invited both the Santos wonderboys – Neymar and Ganso – to a meeting at a Sao Paulo hotel, just to thank them for choosing to stay in Brazil AND snubbing high-profile moves to overseas clubs. As for Neymar, everybody knows how he turned down a move to Chelski (ha-ha-ha).

“It was a courageous act from the board of Santos,” admitted Lula. The team fought for them to stay, because the boys are extraordinary. It was a lesson that the Saints gave, and I hope others will follow. In other words, teams should fight some more and get entrepreneurs to build a fund to pay (players’) wages because they are artists and therefore they deserve to win by giving performance.”

Of course, in true Lula style, he also joked that Ganso “reminds me of myself when I first started to play football”

There must be a reason Monsieur Gourcuff appears so concerned in that photo on the bench for Lyon. Well, that’s because he’s already imagining the fine scones at the Musée des beaux-arts de Lyon! Not that they even have scones there – it’s beyond our wildest imagination. Anyway, Yoann “Remember me for nothing at the World Cup” Gourcuff will be switching Ligue 1 sides for Lyon this coming season. Just cuz’ it’s more glamorous there and Michel Bastos already called him to remind him about the churrascaria welcome dinner!

“This transfer will take place in preserving the interests of Bordeaux, in full agreement with the coach and the coaching staff and in accordance with the contractual commitments of the player,” read the official statement from Lyon.

GuapoVela and THIS MAN were obviously clapping and beaming with pride when Miss Mexico was crowned this year’s winner of the Miss Universe pageant. It’s muito bimbotic, but congratulations to all our Mexican readers who were also rooting for her!

So we all know that Rio will be hosting the 2016 Olympics… but the man of the moment has to be Felipe Andreoli, the host of CQC, a popular TV show in Latin America and parts of Europe (you may remember this Chilean tipo teasing players at the Bernabeu). As for Felipe, he went around chasing the Brazilian contingent with an obscene photo of Pelé, shared the ‘good’ parts of Rio with other delegates, cut an onion to make himself cry to get a hug from President Lula and went on a separate mission to give a number 13 shirt to Obama. In all, eu amo esse programa!

(Muito obrigada por isso, Mari!)

via AFP

Good ol‘ Ronaldo-loving-Lula is so nice that he has accepted Chile’s request to host the 2015 Copa America – and a further proposal to change the tournament’s organization in 2019.

“I’ve committed to President Bachelet (that I will) change the organization of the 2015 Copa America in 2019. I spoke personally with the Minister of Sports (Orlando Silva) and men’s football in the country,” Lula said.

The President of Chile also asked Lula to study the possibility of changing the tournament’s organization, which has seen a pre-set schedule since 1987.

“We want to (organize) a very special Copa America that shows a series of stages that are improving and are (prepared) to receive the selections of the continent, such as Brazil,” noted Bachelet.

That’s President Lula holding up the Copa da Brasil 2009 trophy and wearing the Corinthians sash at the Presidential palace yesterday! He’s a noted fan of the Timao and was notably delighted at the chance to hold the cup. “I don’t envy you… those who are not fans of Corinthians,” he said. Later, Lula joked with Jorge Henrique, saying he looked like Romário.

Anyway, the president and Ronaldo had a private conversation where he asked the player if he planned a return to Europe at the end of the year. The president’s second assistant said Ronaldo declared that his “cycle” in Europe had ended.

Prez Lula for the win!

Photo via globo

Adriano aka the Favela and Barbecue King has been wearing jerseys with the numbers 29, 27, 92, 90 and 100 since his return to Flamengo in April. But from today, he’ll finally get to wear the all-important number 9 shirt after an Internet poll was conducted among the club’s fans. Well, he can wear #9 at Flamengo but the prospect of wearing the same shirt under Dunga… impossível!

In other news, Flamengo and Corinthians are slated to play a friendly match in Palestine in September as a peace initiative promoted by the Brazilian government. Well, you know Lula. All he needs to do is to send a Brazilian player to various countries and everything will be solved. Oh, if only it were that easy!

Your eyes are not playing tricks on you – it’s really Ronaldo Lima heading the ball to President Lula in the state’s Office of Presidency. The striker visited the World’s Coolest President to pass him a Corinthians shirt and a ball autographed by all the players.

Lula also told Ronaldo, “When you enter the field, know that I am watching.” If that isn’t pressure to perform, we don’t know what is!

The club’s president, Andres Sanchez was also present to meet Lula, who claimed during the meeting that Ronaldo is not fat but merely a ‘baby’. Yeah, we don’t get that either.

Check out the video below – Lula’s header is amusingly epic!

Romario has come out to defend fellow countryman, Ronaldo, after critics have suggested that he’ll be unable to do ‘much good’ for the national team.

“If he’s still scoring goals, Ronaldo (definitely) has a chance to be back in the Brazilian selection. It’s well deserved although I doubt he is thinking of the selection at this time,” said Romario. “I have a friend there (who says) that if Ronaldo maintains the current level, they will have interest in him. Ronaldo’s goals live and he is still scoring.”

And it’s not just Romario who wants a piece of the action. President Lula has even commented on the issue.

“With each passing day, Ronaldo has proved that he is taking his return to football very seriously,” said Lula.

Meanwhile Ronaldo has expressed an interest in returning to the selecao. “I’m doing my part in Corinthians and I’m very happy. If that is enough to be called and if I am worthy, I will feel very proud and grateful,” he said.

Here’s a great photo of Lula receiving a Boca Juniors jersey from Argentina’s prime minister, Cristina Fernández! What we’re wondering is why she didn’t give him the Argentinean national jersey instead? Hehe… a very very touchy subject.

Both leaders met to discuss measures to “deepen the strategic association between both countries.”

Oh, Lula! The first thing he’ll do when he goes back to Brasil is to give David Beckham’s autographed jersey to his neto or grandson.

And that message on the kit has to be a joke, Futbolitas.

“Dear President Lula – In recognition of the friendship in football between England and Brazil. Best wishes, David Beckham.”

Is he referring to the friendship between Ronaldinho and David Seaman at the 2002 World Cup? Ah, of course we remember that friendship!

A few days ago, a friend of ours asked us what we’d do if we met President Lula. The answer’s pretty simple, pessoas. We’d beg the man for citizenship. Duh!

Anyway, Lula has spoken up about Man City and their pathetic quest to sign every Brazilian player on the planet.

“You see players like Robinho, playing in a team like Manchester City. What are they equivalent here to? It’s not even equivalent to Palmeiras or Sao Paolo. Man City are equivalent to a small team, like Volta Redonda. It’s just not possible. Previously, the teams (who signed Brazilian players) were the great ones, but now almost any team in Europe are taking our players.”

Let’s just hope Lula didn’t say that to Prince Charles whom he met in an official visit three days ago..

President Lula is on a 3-day visit to Italy and Prime Minister Berlusconi thought it would be a fantastic way to welcome him by inviting all the Brazilian AC Milan players to Villa Madama as well.  “President, this is Ronaldinho,” Berlusconi told Lula, according to Gazzetta Dello Sport. DUH! Well, I guess he meant it as a joke.

Kaka, Dida, Pato, Emerson, Dida (with hair) and former AC Milan great, Leonardo were all present. They looked incredibly hot in suits.