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New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Watching Matheus Cunha's Man United debut at his first futsal club in Brazil: ‘He looked at home, relaxed'
It is Sunday morning in Recife, the biggest city in northeast Brazil, and the Paramirim neighbourhood is still half asleep. The roads, cordoned off for weekend bike rides, are empty. The street hawkers have yet to set up shop. A few elderly couples do laps of the Parque da Jaqueira, but only in slow motion. There is no urgency, no sense of anything happening any time soon. Advertisement Except, that is, for one little place. Outside the Santa Luiza primary school, behind a blue iron gate, there is movement and laughter. Boys in blue training kits gather in pockets of shade and trade wisecracks. Cars pull into the courtyard; someone unloads a television from the back of one of them. There is a dog, a fluffy little white thing called Joca. At the centre of everything, juggling phone calls and high fives with the youngsters, is a man with a megawatt smile. His name is Barao Xavier. The futsal court next to the school playground is the home of his life's work, CT Barao, an independent football academy he set up 16 years ago. To call it a local success story would be to undersell it: multiple players have turned professional after starting here, including Portugal international midfielder Otavio and Nino, an Olympic gold medallist with the Brazil Under-23 side. The most famous alumnus, though? That will be Matheus Cunha, a regular in the Brazil senior squad and, as of 11 weeks ago, a Manchester United player. In an hour or so, he will make his debut for his new team against Arsenal. To mark the occasion, Xavier has organised a watch-along party. Hence the TV. Hence the buzz of anticipation. Cunha grew up in Joao Pessoa, a city two hours up the coast. He started playing football with his dad in the town square, then joined his local futsal team. That brought him onto the radar of Xavier, who was working as a scout for Santa Cruz, one of the three big teams in the state of Pernambuco. When Xavier left Santa Cruz to set up his own project, he approached Cunha's parents — Carmelo, a teacher, and hotel receptionist Luziana — and signed young Matheus up. He immediately knew he had a talent on his hands. 'Cognitively, he was so far ahead of the others,' Xavier told The Athletic earlier this year. 'He was two-footed and he was a leader.' There are around 150 kids registered at CT Barao. Xavier coaches them from under-7 level to under-19. The normal routine is five training sessions a week per age category — two on the court, three on an outdoor pitch that is equal parts bog and beach — and a game at the weekend. Cunha only ever trained twice a week. His parents did not want to take him out of school in his hometown. 'He used to travel back and forth, back and forth,' says Xavier, settling into a plastic white chair ahead of kick-off. Advertisement He is joined by six of his players — many more will join by half-time, arriving in ones and twos, shuffling over the teal concrete — and by assorted members of the Xavier clan, all wearing colourful training kit. Xavier has four daughters. Three of them are qualified physical education teachers and coach at CT Barao. His wife works at the adjoining school and also chips in. It is the definition of a family affair. The whole operation exudes good vibes; the sultry Recife sun is not the only source of warmth in the room. Cunha was nine when he first came here. He only left for Coritiba, a historic club located in the south of Brazil, when he was 14. At first glance, it looks like an unusual pathway into the professional game. Xavier, though, believes youngsters can benefit from operating slightly outside the system. 'When you work responsibly, players can end up developing better than they would at big clubs,' he says. 'Big clubs can limit youngsters; we try to broaden their horizons. They play futsal and 11-a-side all the way through. They get used to playing on any type of surface. Bad pitches, good pitches… they can cope with it.' There is also a social aspect. Clubs like CT Barao develop a sense of community and citizenship. Kids from the poorer communities don't pay to train here. Xavier and his family do a lot of outreach work, providing food baskets to hospitals, schools and favela groups. Youngsters in shiny academies do not experience this. Mainly, though, it's about patience. 'We're not in a rush,' he says. 'There's no obligation for us to win trophies. What we ask for is the right attitude, on and off the pitch. There might be some pressure from the families, but it's not the same as they'd experience in a club setting, with fans. It means that when my players do join a bigger team, they are more mature, more prepared.' Advertisement So it was with Cunha, who appears on screen during the early exchanges at Old Trafford. It becomes clear that he is the nominal centrepoint of a fluid, three-man attack for United — or simply 'Manchester', as many Brazilian commentators still call them. It is not, says Xavier, his best role. 'But he can do it, he's smart enough. He'll adjust.' The kids offer their predictions. All plump for a home win. Their confidence is quickly punctured by Riccardo Calafiori's opening goal, nodded home after a weak attempt at a punch by Altay Bayindir. There is, however, some sympathy from Gabriel Noah, the goalkeeper for the under-13 team. 'In Brazil, that would definitely be given as a foul,' he says, watching the replay. Half an hour in, there is a slight sense of frustration. Cunha has been well marshalled by the Arsenal defence. Before the interval, though, he bursts into life. First comes a barrelling solo run and shot — 'He was always like that, very direct,' says Xavier — and a range-finder from distance. When David Raya gets down to claw out Cunha's clever left-footed effort, a couple of the boys have their heads in their hands. 'He's starting to fight now,' says Xavier. 'It's going to come.' The half-time whistle blows. One of the younger boys, Ze Miguel, approaches Xavier. He has clearly been told by his parents that there is a special guest coming, but he thinks it's someone rather more exciting than The Athletic. 'Is Matheus Cunha here?' he asks. Xavier shakes his head, ruefully. 'How would Matheus Cunha be here if you're watching him on TV?' In fairness to little Ze, Cunha has been a regular visitor in recent years. He drops in when he is in the area, hands out some old boots, and plays a little five-a-side. The most recent visit was in June and ended with a pep talk that has clearly stuck with the kids. 'He told us to keep believing in our dreams, to keep training hard,' says Lucas Rodrigues, one of the under-15s. He's an inspiration to all of us. Everyone here looks up to him. You see where he is now and you can't help but want to get there, too.' Advertisement There is excitement about the move to Manchester United. 'They're still a really big deal here,' says Xavier. 'You see United shirts all over Brazil.' Under-12 player Davi Luca agrees. 'It's a good club for him,' he says, 'They have more visibility (than Wolves) here in Brazil. I'm happy watching him at this level. He did well in the first half. I'd like to see him try a few more dribbles, but it's a good start.' As the second half begins, Xavier is remembering an under-11 futsal tournament in 2009. It took place in Switzerland. Getting there took a mammoth fundraising effort, but there they were, CT Barao, competing with the likes of Bayern Munich and — yes — Manchester United. 'Our kids travelled with rucksacks and you had all these players from the big teams arriving with those aluminium suitcases,' laughs Xavier. 'The boys noticed that. But when the games started, they saw they could compete.' That was the first time Cunha had left Brazil. A year later, CT Barao returned to Switzerland for the 2010 edition. Cunha was named the best player at the competition and took home a watch as a prize. Cunha was the creative fulcrum of Xavier's side, 'the guy who moved the team from defence to attack'. After a sleepy start to the second half at Old Trafford, the arrival of Benjamin Sesko, and the relocation of Cunha into a deeper position, provokes a fresh wave of interest. 'When he plays deep, he can feed the team,' says Xavier, who swoons as Cunha flicks the ball over his marker to start a United move. 'Look at that move! He's so creative. That's futsal, it gives you that speed of thought.' Asked to expand on the point, Xavier rattles off a sermon. 'They train in reduced spaces in Europe, but if you develop playing futsal, you have a head start,' he says. 'You're used to the rhythm: touch, pass, move. It's habit creation. We call it oriented control: you receive the ball in a way that allows you to do something with your next touch. The kids here have always grown up on it. 'Kids who play futsal know how to close a passing lane, how to create overloads, how to defend when you're outnumbered. You're touching the ball constantly, so your relationship with it is more refined. You don't get that playing on a full pitch. It's the right way to train young players, in my view.' Advertisement The match edges towards its conclusion. 'Come on, Cunha,' whispers one of the boys, but United are unable to pierce the Arsenal back line. There is to be no goal, no moment of crescendo for the Brazilian. Still, it strikes most as a promising start. 'He did well,' says Noah, the young goalkeeper. 'I think he's going to be a success at Manchester United and hopefully win some trophies there.' Xavier echoes that view. 'He played well,' he says. 'You wouldn't have known it was his debut. He looked at home, relaxed.' And with that, the party is over. A bunch of the boys start to kick a spare flip-flop around, a game that instantly descends into carnage. Xavier and his daughters tidy up briskly; there is an under-19 match to prepare for later in the afternoon. You get the impression they are in constant movement. Xavier himself is a force of nature on the local football scene, the kind of figure that any parent would be blessed to encounter. You can understand why Cunha's message to the young players in June included the instruction to listen to 'uncle Barao'. And why the notion that they might one day follow in the forward's footsteps isn't as far-fetched as it might be if they had a different coach. 'We have to believe in our dreams,' says Davi Luca, the under-12 player. 'Knowing that Matheus Cunha used to play for this team… it makes me think I could get there, too.' (Top photos: Getty Images, Jack Lang/The Athletic; design: Dan Goldfarb) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
📊 Brasileirão table: giants swap places in the Z-4 after Saturday
The weekend is a full round in the Brasileirão and, this Saturday (26), five games opened the #17. Were there many draws? There were, but there was no lack of excitement! For example, in the 1 x 1 between Botafogo and Corinthians, at the Nilton Santos Stadium, the Glorious took the lead, played better, but the Timão pulled a draw with the "contested" Memphis Depay. The point was enough for Corinthians to gain three positions in the table, at least until Sunday's games, which complete the Recife, Sport opened 2 x 0 against Santos, was left with one more player, but ended up taking the draw in 2 x 2 in the final minutes. The Lion of the Island, thus, continues without winning in the Brasileirão, while the Peixe managed to get out of the other draw of the round was the 1 x 1 between Mirassol and Vitória. But don't be fooled by the "modest" score. Both teams missed good at the Arena Castelão, Fortaleza beat RB Bragantino 3 x 1 and ended a streak of six rounds without victories, in a total of 10 games without knowing what the three points were. The result made Laion gain a position in the table, leaving the penultimate position to Juventude, who still plays in the at home, Palmeiras beat Grêmio 1 x 0 and "engaged the third" in the Brasileirão. With the new victory, Verdão stuck to the leader Cruzeiro and vice Flamengo.📆 Schedule of Sunday's games 4pm (Brasília time) - São Paulo x Fluminense 4pm (Brasília time) - Cruzeiro x Ceará 6:30pm (Brasília time) - Internacional x Vasco 6:30pm (Brasília time) - Bahia x Juventude 8:30pm (Brasília time) - Flamengo x Atlético-MG 📊 Check the UPDATED Brasileirão table This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here. 📸 YASUYOSHI CHIBA
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🎥 Sport ultras storm training ground, striker attacked
This Wednesday afternoon (16) was marked by the invasion of members of a Sport organization at the club's training center. The group made demands and threatened the athletes due to the poor campaign in the Brazilian Championship. There was even aggression. The Lion is the lantern of the BR since the second round. It has not yet won and has only three points in 12 matches played - two were postponed. Recovering from an injury, striker Pablo, ex-São Paulo and Athletico, even received a slap and a pull. One of the videos circulating on social media shows one of the fans present saying that "All of them have a criminal record". Sport stated that it had prior knowledge that the members of the organization were in the external area of the José de Andrade Médicis training center. But was negatively surprised by the subsequent invasion with a damaged gate. In an official note, the club highlighted the "absolutely unacceptable behaviors" after the incident. (see the full note below). The Military Police clarified to ge that "the act took place peacefully, without the need for police intervention." And that "there were no relevant incidents during the protest." 📝 See Sport's official note: "Sport Club do Recife vehemently repudiates the invasion that occurred on Wednesday afternoon (16) at the José de Andrade Médicis Training Center, promoted by members of organized fans. During the episode, there was coercion against athletes, members of the technical committee, and club employees — absolutely unacceptable behaviors. The Club informs that it will take all necessary measures to identify and punish those responsible, with the support of the competent authorities. Sport emphasizes that it had prior knowledge of the presence of fans in the external area of the training center and had organized itself to listen to their demands, with the participation of all members of the football department. However, in an unacceptable manner, there was an invasion of the training center's premises, with damage to the access gate and intimidation of professionals in an environment that should be protected for work and for the physical integrity of all. There was private security at the location, and the Military Police were called, arriving at the training center still during the incident. Sport reinforces its commitment to the safety of its employees and fans and will continue to work firmly to promote a culture of peace in all its activities, inside and outside the field." Sport's schedule 📅 The next challenge for the Red-Black team will be on Sunday (20), when they will host Botafogo at Ilha do Retiro. The sequence will have matches against Vitória (F), Santos (C), and Bahia (C). The duel of this 14th round would be against Atlético, but the Minas Gerais team has a commitment to the South American playoffs. The other postponed match was against Fluminense, for the 12th round, due to the presence of Tricolor in the Club World Cup. Sport faces a 15-game winless streak in the sum of all competitions. It has not won since the first leg of the Pernambuco Championship final on March 22. There are 11 defeats and four draws since then. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Daily Mail
I've travelled to 193 countries but one stood out so much I quit my job and moved there
Few people have seen as much of the world as Randy Williams. The intrepid traveller from San Diego, who posts online as Ramblin' Randy, has visited all 193 UN member countries and ticked off his final nation, Turkmenistan, in 2023. You might think that having seen so much of the world, Randy might struggle to choose his favourite country. But, in an interview with LOST iN in 2019, Randy revealed he actually didn't find it a challenge to pick his top spot. At the time of the interview Randy had travelled to 120 countries and had one clear favourite. 'I always get asked what my favourite country is,' said Randy. 'And the answer for me is so easy because well, it's the only country that I packed up everything, quit my job, left everything behind and moved to. 'I found this city on the coast called Recife. I didn't even leave the airport but passing over the shores of Recife, I saw these beautiful, coral, pastel-coloured high-rises right along the beach. It kinda reminded me of Miami Beach. 'So, on my next trip, I visited it. I found an apartment and then I went back home and asked my boss if I could talk to him and told him I was quitting and moving to Brazil, and it was one of the most exciting times of my life.' 'I found this city on the coast called Recife. I didn't even leave the airport but passing over the shores of Recife, I saw these beautiful, coral, pastel-coloured high-rises right along the beach' Located on Brazil's northeastern Atlantic coast, urban Recife blends beaches and high-rises. But while he might have moved to Brazil, the South American country is the only destination to have caught Randy's attention. He revealed that Switzerland, Djibouti, Armenia and Brunei also number among his favourite countries. On his blog, Randy explains that he tends to 'travel fast and furious', sometimes spending less than 24 hours in each country. When he completed his epic challenge in Turkmenistan, Randy told ABC 10News San Diego that it was 'bittersweet'. He added: 'A pin for every country, and this is the last one - Turkmenistan. Here we go.'
New Straits Times
27-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Hard for Brazilian club Recife to lure Bergson away from JDT
KUALA LUMPUR: The talk is that Brazilian club, Sport Recife, are trying to bring Bergson Da Silva home, but the Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) star has more reasons to stay in Malaysia. Recife, who compete in the top flight of the Brazilian league, have reportedly made contact with Da Silva. Brazilian journalist Antonio Gabriel wrote on X: "Striker Bergson (34) is on Sport Recife's radar. The Rubro-Negro club has enquired about the player, who has been with Johor in Malaysia since 2020, scoring 152 goals in 137 matches." Since joining JDT in February 2021, Da Silva has plundered 150 goals in 141 appearances, and is just one short of breaking Indra Putra Mahayuddin's all-time Super League scoring record. But beyond club success, Da Silva is also close to qualifying for Malaysian naturalisation under Fifa's five-year residency rule. His contract with JDT runs until the end of this year, putting him just months away from being eligible to play for Harimau Malaya. A move now to Recife would reset that clock entirely. Gabriel said Recife's biggest hurdle isn't just convincing Bergson, but matching his wages. "Among the main challenges is the player's high salary demand. What Da Silva earns in Malaysia is significantly more than what Sport Recife can offer," he said. With national team prospects within reach and more glory with JDT beckons, it's hard to see Da Silva leaving the Southern Tigers now.
