FCBARCELONA.CAT

23.07.2009 13:31

Goals, a way of life

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Born to score goals. That’s the best way to describe Barça’s new Brazilian signing Keirrison da Souza Carneiro. He joins the Club with the aim of emulating some of Barça’s illustrious Brazilian forwards of the past.

If there’s one thing this young Brazilian, born in Dourados (Mato Grosso do Sul) on 3rd December 1988, doesn’t lack it’s quality. He was voted best newcomer in the 2008 Brazilian league and despite playing for a relatively modest club Coritiba, was the top scorer in the competition with 21 goals.

A meteoric rise

Keirrison started playing football at the age of ten when his father enrolled him in the youth sections of the CENE (Centro Esportivo Nova Esperança), the club of his home city. His goals and talent soon caught the eye of some of the country’s major clubs and Coritiba took him into their youth teams in 2000. Keirrison continued to develop as a forward until he made the leap to the first team, then in the second division and managed by René Simões, at the age of 18.

Goals in second, goals in first

Keirrison took his opportunity and played a key part in taking Coritiba to the first division in 2007 with 12 goals. The following season saw the club win the Paraná championship with Keirrison as top scorer (18 goals) and voted best player. The club more than held their own in the Brazilian Serie A and Keirrison was once again top scorer with 21 goals, tied with Washington (Fluminense) and Kléber Pereira (Santos).

Goals with Palmeiras

At the beginning of January, he signed for Palmeiras where he joined up with former Barça star Edmílson and finished second in the goal ranking of the Paulista Championship with 13 goals. In the league he scored 5 goals in 7 games and was one of the top scorers in the Copa Libertadores with 6.

Obsessed with goals

Keirrison is 181 cm tall and weighs 70 kg, which combined with his nose for goal makes him a classic centre forward who seizes on the slightest chance in the goal area, his natural habitat. He is good in the air and usually plays out to the left though he shoots well with either foot while his speed and physique make him a hard man to mark.

Unlike many Brazilian strikers, Keirrison tends not to overcomplicate matters and instead shoots on sight. His move to Barça confirms his growing promise and can only help his eventual inclusion in the national squad. Many pundits see him as the likely Brazil centre forward in the 2014 World Cup.