5 Biggest Brazilian Failures in Europe

Brazil has produced some of the biggest stars in world football history. That is without any doubt. However, like any country, it has also produced those who have failed to match initial expectation.

The move to European clubs is not an easy one for many players, with a hugely different culture to adapt to both on and off the field.

It is a move that leads some to excel, while others struggle under the weight of expectation. Luck, undoubtedly, can play a major role in how a player's career will pan out.

Without further ado, then, let's take a look at five of Brazil's biggest flops in European football. 

5. Kerlon (Internazionale)

Brazil Under-17 star Kerlon spent four years on the books of Inter Milan between 2008 and 2012, but failed to ever make an appearance for the Nerazzurri.

The young "seal dribble" star suffered greatly with injuries in his time at the club, seeing his progress halted after a bright start to his career with Brazilian side Cruzeiro.

Loan moves to Chievo and Ajax were arranged, but injury once more limited the youngster to less than a handful of appearances in his first two years in Europe.

Returns to Brazil followed, with Parana and Nacional NS used in an attempt to help the prodigy recapture his former playing levels. Ultimately, nothing worked, with Kerlon allowed to quietly depart in 2012.

He has since been playing for Fujieda MYFC in the third tier of Japanese football. 

4. Kleberson (Manchester United)

When Manchester United signed Brazilian midfielder Kleberson off the back of a starring role at the 2002 World Cup a year earlier, it looked somewhat of a coup to capture such a talented box-to-box midfielder.

Sadly, over the course of an injury-hit two-year spell at Old Trafford, Kleberson never really took off. In August 2005, he joined Turkish side Besiktas, and the English club recouped just one-third of their original £6 million outlay on the Brazilian.

It was not that Kleberson wasn't good enough, he simply never adapted to life in the Premier League, and found the competition for places at the club too difficult to deal with.

Life in Turkey would also last just two years, with the midfielder terminating his contract and returning to his homeland in 2007. 

3. Breno (FC Bayern)

Bayern beat off stiff competition to secure the signing of young centre-back Breno in 2005, with Portuguese language reports placing the fee at around €14 million.

However, for a number of contrasting reasons, it has not quite worked out for the youth international.

After a slow first couple of seasons where he steadily picked up first-team appearances, Breno was loaned to FC Nurnberg. However, after just a few appearances, he would suffer a cruciate ligament injury that would keep him out of action for some time.

Breno returned to Bayern, but again found his first-team opportunities restricted. The player is reported to have struggled to deal with his injury problems and was arrested for arson after a fire at his house in September 2011.

The 22-year-old was handed a three-year, nine-month prison sentence, according to Goal.com, and has agreed to resume his career with former club Sao Paulo. 

2. Keirrison (Barcelona)

Striker Keirrison joined Barcelona in 2009 in a €14 million transfer from Brazilian side Palmeiras. At that point, he was considered one of Brazil's brightest up-and-coming talents. 

In the four years since, though, he has yet to play a game for the Catalan club, and has seen his reputation take a battering during loan spells at Benfica, Fiorentina, Santos and now Coritiba.

Quite simply, the goals have dried up and Barcelona have been left with a very expensive mistake on their hands.

The story is not over yet, with the now 24-year-old still under contract at the Camp Nou for a further 12 months. Until December, though, he will remain with Coritiba. 

1. Denilson (Betis)

It took a new world record fee of over £21 million to bring Denilson to Andalusia in 1998, with the world expecting the France '98 star to set European football alight.

In seven years in Spain, though, it never quite came together for the 61-cap international. He would eventually leave the club in 2005 having dropped out of first-team reckoning, moving to Ligue 1 side Bordeaux.

Life in France was little better, lasting just one season before heading to the Middle East with Saudi side Al-Nasr. It would be the end of his European adventure.

He will go down in history as one of world football's biggest unfulfilled talents. Not bad for a World Cup winning player.