From The Sunday Telegraph:
United have more than succumbed to a market fad. They are investing in long-term access to Brazilian talent, even when British regulations about qualification for these players remain the most stringent in Europe. United recently signed a deal with Sao Paulo which covered technology transfer in injury treatment and advice from United's formidable marketing department. In return United are apparently to be given access to some of the best talent in South America.
Sao Paulo, who lie second in the Brazilian championship, have a proven record of producing and nurturing talent. Rai, Leonardo and Cafu were part of the stellar team that Tele Santana took to World InterClub success in 1992 and 1993 before moving on.
The most marketable of the present crop is Kaka, possibly the closest equivalent to David Beckham in Brazil, and in Mexico with Brazil's under-23 squad. But the player United are grooming is a 16-year-old, Carlos Eduardo de Castro Loureno, a versatile defender who has already been to Manchester. The plan, according to United, is to send him to Sporting Lisbon at 18 for further development.
The deal took six months with the assistance of elite law firm Pinheiro Neto. But United have backtracked on the information released by Sao Paulo.
United's academy director Dr Les Kershaw's comments on the official United website do not answer all the questions. Kershaw asserts that "it is not a partnership" before going on to acknowledge its potential. "We hope this will further opportunities in the future. Always the first is the most difficult because it is ground-breaking stuff."
Sao Paulo president Marcelo Portugal Gouvea had acknowledged, despite United's semantic objection to the word "partnership" that the agreement "will help us to continue with our strong tradition of constructing great teams.
The possibility of a player being able to plan his career is something that has always been sought but until now seemed impractical. This partnership will certainly bring us great progress." So while United stifle paulista enthusiasm by distinguishing the accord from those done with a network of other clubs such as Sporting, Royal Antwerp and Kaizer Chiefs, the gap in interpretations can only prompt speculation.
While the Premiership has seemed cosmopolitan, access for Brazilians has remained restricted by the rule that non-EU players must have featured in 75 per cent of their country's games over the previous two years to automatically qualify.
So while relatively obscure Brazilians like Santos Gaia could star for Exeter City and Rodrigo signed for Everton last season, international stars like Kleberson and Ronaldinho are still required to go to a tribunal. Neither Gilberto Silva nor Juninho were spared in 2002 despite the World Cup winners' medals dangling around their necks. Not even a proven Premiership pedigree could save Juninho from the tribunal process. Few, if any of the World Cup-winning squad, could fulfil the criteria.
United chief executive Peter Kenyon, meanwhile, was in upbeat mood as United departed for their tour of the United States yesterday, despite losing Beckham - one of the few footballers widely recognised in America - and missing out on Ronaldinho.