FCBARCELONA.CAT

23.05.2008 13:15

Glory and injuries

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Edmílson is leaving FC Barcelona after four seasons during which time he has helped the club win major trophies, but also suffered from injuries to his knee that sidelined him for long spells.

"It is like a dream. My aim now is to play in as many games as possible to win the Champions League," he said when joining the Blaugrana on July 30, 2004. The Brazilian midfielder arrived in Catalunya after winning four consecutive Ligue 1 titles with Olympique Lyonnais and Barça's sixth new signing that summer. The was already out in the Far East and Edmílson flew out to join them on August 2 in Seoul.

Debut date

His official debut came on Sepember 19 of that year when he made his first appearance in the draw with Atlético de Madrid in Vicente Calderón, a game in which he played the full 90 minutes. Barcelona went ahead through Gio van Bronckhorst, with a shot from outside the area, before Fernando Torres levelled matter after the break.

Vital Statistics

During the four seasons Edmílson spent at Camp Nou, he played 71 league matches, 12 Champions League game, ten more in the Copa del Rey and two in the Spanish Super Cup. The former São Paulo starlet was named in the starting line-up for the Champions League final against Arsenal in Paris and was substituted for Andrés Iniesta before the Blaugrana had scored.

Last term

The 2007-08 campaign began in Son Moix and Edmílson was able to play for 20 minutes after undergoing a medical exam on his troublesome right knee. In all, he played 11 league games, three in the Copa del Rey and one in the Champions League, against Celtic, throughout the season.

Injury problems

On October 3, 2004, in the sixth week of the new season, Edmílson badly injured his right knee. In the 64th minute of game against Numancia he rose to head a ball and fell badly. The break to his internal meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament meant that he was sidelined until May 22, 2005, when he returned to action against Villarreal, after Barça had already won the title. Last season, he again suffered problems with the same knee and ended up having surgery on June 21 2007.