15 hours ago
- 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.
