Player profile

Inconsistency was Elano’s biggest failing during his time at Manchester City. He seemed adverse to British winters and in his two years at the City of Manchester Stadium he managed just two goals between the months of November and February.

When the sun was on his back, he excelled, but by then patience of manager of Mark Hughes had worn thin and it was no surprise when he was sold to Galatasary in July 2009.

He left City after 80 appearances and 18 goals. Previously he had been at Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk, who he helped to league title glory in 2006. His reputation, though, was formed at Santos, where he won the Campeonato Brasileiro in 2002 and 2004 and scored 33 goals in 131 games.

A favourite of coach Dunga, who admires his movement and versatility across midfield, he usually operates on the right of midfield, where he helps to cover the forward rampages of full-back Maicon.

He has winners’ medals from the 2007 Copa America and the 2009 Confederations Cup finals. A regular scorer at international level, he scored two impressive goals in a friendly against Argentina in 2006.

Elano had a modest upbringing in Sao Paulo and his family made him catch four different buses to go training with his first junior club, in order to avoid the gangs who stole from passengers.