The Top 20 Players Who May Leave Brazil During This Transfer Window

The World Cup is winding down in South Africa, and it is never too early to take a look at possible transfer window players who may be available from Brazilian sides.

These are the top 20 who have a good shot to hit the old continent, but not all may do so in August...

20. Mario Fernandes

Mario Fernandes
Gremio
Center Back/Right Back
19-years-old

A youngster who came into Brazil's top division last year with Porto Alegre side Gremio, Mario has been nicknamed the next “Lucio” by the Brazilian press.

Not sure how European clubs perceive this, but shortly after signing with Gremio, he ran away from the team grounds and was only found days later in a different state after making stops at the ATM.

Depression turned out to be the culprit, nothing illegal.

Maybe they don't care. Giant clubs such as Man U, Juventus, Madrid, and Bayern Munich have shown interest.

19. Philippe Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho
Vasco da Gama
Attacking Midfielder
18-years-old

Philippe drew the attention of major European clubs right away and was bought up by Inter Milan for €3.8 million when he was just 16.

The Italian side chose to allow him to develop a bit more in Brazil due to his young age, and he is now set to join the Italian champions for the start of the 2010-2011 Series A season.

He may not be ready by then, so who knows? Inter might allow him to play one more year at a mid level European club to get acquainted.

Link - Clips

18. Rafael Sobis

Rafael Sobis
Internacional
Striker
25-years-old

Sobis made his first move to Europe back in 2006 when he was snagged by Real Betis in La Liga, where he stayed for three seasons.

After a two year stint with Al-Jazira from the UAE, who paid €10 million for him, he returned to Brazil to sign with Internacional.

Rafael was first called up to the national side in 2006 and has since played in eight matches with one goal.

Already having played several years overseas, Sobis is a viable candidate for a mid level squad who can not afford to pay the ridiculous amounts demanded by players who are currently playing in the elite of Europe.

Newcastle was rumored to be interested in late 2008-2009, but who knows if they want to follow through.

17. Caio

Caio
Botafogo
Forward
19-years-old

A very promising young player, Caio was instrumental in the 2010 Campeonato Carioca title run for Botafogo.

Dubbed a lucky talisman by manager Joel Santana, Caio was sent late into three games and scored in all of them, sending his side to the finals and even defeating heavily favored Flamengo on the way.

This is a player the MLS should seriously consider. He is young, plays a Brazilian style, and has already lived in the United States.

From 2001 to early 2007, he lived near Boston with his parents and was the star on his school team (obviously, right?). He was voted the “revelation” of the 2010 Campeonato Carioca.

Link - Clips

16. Sandro

Sandro
Internacional
Defensive Midfielder
21-years-old

Sandro has perhaps the most unique story of how he managed to get called up to play his first professional game for Internacional.

At the start of the 2008 season, two Inter players came down with Hepatitis A and room was made for Sandro on the top level team.

Sandro was the captain of Brazil's title winning U-20 side in the South American U-20 Championships in 2009.

Dunga even called him up for a 2009 qualifier versus Chile and Argentina, and he managed to get on the field during the Chile match.

Sandro was one of the seven players that were in Dunga's top 30 but did not make the final 23 man squad for South Africa.

In March of 2010, Tottenham swooped in and purchased the youngster for €10 million.

15.Alex Silva

Alex Silva
São Paulo
Sweeper
25-years-old

Already with two stints in Europe, Alex Silva is currently playing for São Paulo and could be on his way to the old continent soon. After all, he is at São Paulo on loan only right now.

Hamburg paid €13 million and even agreed to let him stay in Brazil until mid 2011 at the latest. He is the brother of Luisão, sweeper for Benfica and the Seleção on occasion.

14.Miranda

Miranda
São Paulo
Sweeper
25-years-old

Miranda is the second half of the center back duo for São Paulo FC and is one of the top defenders in the Brazilian domestic league.

He spent almost two years playing for Sochaux in France and made his national team debut in 2009 against Peru for the South American qualifying tournament.

13.Dagoberto

Dagoberto
São Paulo
Forward
27-years-old

Dagoberto has fallen into the category no Brazilian player ever wants to fall into.

Despite being a success domestically, he has, for some reason, been basically ignored by Europe. He has yet to play for the top flight national team, but he was a fixture in both the U-20 and U-23 sides earlier in the decade.

He is 27 years old, but you wouldn't guess it. His Leo DiCaprio style lets him come off as much younger than reality.

Because of his age and his lack of European experience, most teams across the pond are not lining up to sign him. However, Atletico de Madrid is contemplating on bringing over the Brazilian for next year's La Liga run.

12. Conca

Conca
Fluminense
Attacking Midfielder
27-years-old

A bit of a surprise to make this list, Conca is the only non Brazilian in the top 20. Argentinian-born Conca landed at Fluminense at the start of the 2008 season. He was an integral part of the 2008 squad that reached the Copa Libertadores Final.

Conca is small but extremely quick and gifted on the ball, sort of a poor man's Messi. In 2009, he was elected the player of the year by the fans for the Brazilian domestic league.

Not impressed? Conca is an Argentinian wearing the No. 10 jersey on a Brazilian team, perhaps the purists out there understand what that means.

Link - Clips

11. Felipe

Felipe
Corinthians
GK
26-years-old

Perhaps the best keeper in Brazil for the past three seasons, Felipe quickly gained love and support from the Corinthians faithful.

This was one mistake Dunga made. Instead of Doni, Felipe should have been a member of the final 23 in South Africa, even if he didn't get off the bench.

He recently expressed his desire to leave Corinthians, not because he is unhappy, but because he was given an offer from Genoa, and he thinks he may never again get an offer from Europe.

However, within the last 48 hours, Genoa went back and removed the offer for Felipe. His agents are determined to see him play in Europe and are trying to find another suitor before the window closes.

Felipe will be a member of the 2014 World Cup squad. Write it down now.

10. Chicão

Chicão
Corinthians
Sweeper
29-years-old

Maybe the best way to describe how good Chicão really is is to give you this simple stat. Since joining Corinthians for the start of the 2008 season, he has scored 31 goals. And he is a center back.

The very best free kick taker in Brazil right now, Chicão has the ability to defend with no mercy and score enough to make strikers jealous.

He is automatic from 18-25 yards as long as it is suited for his right footed strikers (angle wise). Don't forget Roberto Carlos is on this team, and it's Chicão who decides if he wants the direct kick or not.

Link - Clips

9. Vagner Love

Vagner Love
Flamengo
Striker
26-years-old

After a five year stint with CSKA Moscow, where he averaged more than one goal for every two matches (61 in 118), Vagner Love made his return to Brazil like many others, hoping that playing in his home county would help him earn a place in the 2010 Cup.

Clearly that didn't happen, but Love has already played 21 games for the national side and may be part of the 2011 Copa America side, depending who becomes Brazil's new manager.

CSKA already said that Vagner Love can not play at Flamengo this next season, but he may be headed to Russia or another European location.

8. Dentinho

Dentinho
Corinthians
Winger/Forward
21-years-old

Perhaps the biggest winner when Corinthians signed Ronaldo two years ago was Dentinho. The youngster was showing extreme promise as a top level professional, and once the phenom arrived, Dentinho took off.

He is being touted as the replacement at Benfica for the recently departed Di Maria.

Very fast and skillful on the ball, Dentinho is a bigger version of Robinho, except when it comes to heart. Dentinho outshines Robinho like the sun outshines a candle.

He had 10 offers in the last 18 months from European teams, but declined all to continue playing for the club his heart belongs to.

After the elimination from the 2010 Libertadores, Dentinho appears destined for Portugal. However, the possibility of returning next season to once again have a Copa Libertadores run will actually make a difference in this case.

Link - Clips

7. Fred

Fred
Fluminense
Striker
26-years-old

Fred already looks like the experienced international player we expect Brazilian strikers to be, despite being only 26-years-old.

After an extremely successful stint in France for Lyon, Fred returned to Brazil in 2009 in hopes of earning another call up to the World Cup just as he did for 2006.

It wasn't meant to be, especially since Fred has been fighting annoying injuries that do not seem to stay away.

However, he is still a quality striker that many teams worldwide would love to have.

Personally, I feel he would be one of the few Brazilians best suited to play in the EPL. Since returning in 2009, Fred has 41 goals in just 55 games for Rio club Fluminense.

6. Jucilei

Jucilei
Corinthians
Defensive Midfielder
22-years-old

Jucilei came on strong with Corinthians, the club he joined in 2009. He has created a guaranteed spot in the starting eleven, either as a defensive midfielder, which is his best position, or as a right back if needed.

Big and strong, he is one of the best defensive midfielders Brazil currently has. It is very clear when you watch him play just a few games that he will be on the roster for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

As of June of 2010, he has already received offers to join Dynamo Kiev, PSG, Fiorentina, Lille, and Sevilla, among others.

Link - Clips

5. Robinho

Robinho
Santos
Forward
26-years-old

Already a world wide name, Robinho has just wrapped up his loan stint with his first team, Santos, in Brazil. After three years at Real Madrid, Manchester City made Robinho the most expensive transfer at the time for the EPL.

After a falling out with City officials, Robinho has been on the grind trying to secure a summer transfer to Barcelona.

There have also been rumors indicating Man City has offered the Brazilian to Valencia as well. One thing is for sure, Robinho will not be wearing a Manchester City jersey any time soon.

4. Hernanes

Hernanes
São Paulo
Midfielder
25-years-old

Hernanes is somewhat the forgotten man in Brazil. For the past few years, he has been the best player locally and has even received and refused offers from giants such as Barcelona and AC Milan.

He led São Paulo to the 2007 and 2008 Brazilian domestic titles, bringing home the award for best player in 2008. According to the English paper “The Times,” Hernanes is considered the biggest promise in world football (January 2009).

Hernanes has a rocket for a right foot and a more than solid left footed strike, which basically opens him up to play on any part of the field.

Link - Clips

3. Elias

Elias
Corinthians
Midfielder
25-years-old

Elias is the most important player in the Corinthians midfield, and the team will only go as far as he goes.

Elias is a key component for a potent attack, being one of the very best in Brazil who can bring the ball up from the defensive midfielders up to the strikers.

He joins attacks constantly and usually comes as a surprise to the defenders. He is extremely quick and agile.

Elected the best player of the 2009, Elias has been called the flat out best player in Brazil by his teammate Ronaldo. Dunga is an absolute idiot for leaving him off the roster.

Link - Clips

2. Neymar

Neymar
Forward
Santos
18-years-old

Neymar is the current “hot name” in Brazilian transfers and has already been offered several contracts by top level clubs. Last week, for example, West Ham made a £16 million offer that was quickly shut down by Santos.

Very fast and extremely talented on the ball, Neymar has been called the new Robinho by many due to his playing style and the club he currently defends as well.

Despite being such a promise for the future, I am very hesitant to accept Neymar on the national team, especially because he is clearly not matured to that point.

His on the field and off the field antics are too much, ranging from causing several players to be late to practice because of late night parties to popping his collar during games.

Link - Clips

1. Ganso

Ganso
Santos
Midfielder
20-years-old

Paulo Henrique Ganso was the most coveted name that Dunga left off his 23 man roster for South Africa. He has a unique ability to see the field and deliver the exact pass needed for the offense to move forward.

Much in the way a No. 10 would, Ganso distributes the ball to his teammates with laser precision.

He is already a well known name around Europe, and it won't be long before he finds and secures a spot on one of the world's best clubs.

His current price tag for any team who wants to take him from Santos is sitting at $68 million dollars, a record sum for Brazil, if anyone dares to pay.

Link - Clips