Schalke 04 signs brazilian starlet

By Lulu da Silva
August 22 2005

German traditional side Schalke 04 has found a new man for the right defense. The 19 year old outside defender Marcio Rafael de Souza, called Rafinha, will join Schalke from FC Curitiba for the cracking fee of around 5 million €. Schalke`s men in charge are yet delighted by the skills of the brazilian U-20 star.
"He is a uncutted diamond" said Schalke manager Rudi Assauer. And Team-manager Andreas Müller quoted: "After a certain time for settle down, he will have a lot of fun here". And not only the germans are crazy about him: "For his 19 years he has a lot of self-confidence. If Curitiba gets a penalty, he takes the ball and makes the goal" praises brazilian coach Carlos Alberto.

Rafinha was in Schalkes range of vision for a long time. But after the U-20 worldcup in Holland, where he eliminated the german team with a fantastic goal in extra time, Schalke intensed their efforts and got the player in demand.

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