Has Jefferson Thrown Away His Brazil Future by Remaining with Botafogo?

The kick-off to the Brazilian season is just around the corner but don’t expect any fireworks just yet. As the country endures the searing summer heat, the sterile, tedious and hopelessly out-of-date state championships are on the verge of their annual contest, the sporting equivalent of dragging out a once favoured relic to wave to the crowd, but whose captivating beauty has since been ravaged by the hands of time.

As such, the biggest headlines across Brazil are to be found in the transfer news being discussed in newspapers, radio programmes and television studios.

For decades now this part of the world has failed to cling onto its big names for a telling period of time, and it is unusual to find many players of established international repute continuing to ply their trade in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Prior to the 2015 campaign getting underway, one of the biggest sagas revolved around Botafogo and current Brazil No. 1 Jefferson. A dreadful year for the Carioca club, both on and off the field, resulted in their relegation to the second tier and, by mid-December, Botafogo had released no fewer than 17 members of their playing staff, as reported by ESPN Brasil (link in Portuguese).

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Only the jewel in their crown remained. Jefferson, known as the Cat by fans, a veteran of five years standing and Dunga’s first-choice between the sticks for the Selecao.

Surely he, with his international aspirations and the Copa America just a few months away, would not be remaining at General Severiano?

Paulista outfit Santos were reportedly in for the international stopper, with the possibility of a swap with Aranha mooted, as reported by UOL Esporte (link in Portuguese). But, in the end, all negotiations were called off.

Jefferson signed a new contract, committing his future to the Serie B club until 2017. It is, at what is quite probably the most crucial phase of his career to date, a decision that carries with it an enormous amount of unnecessary risk.

The 31-year-old has finally established himself as his country’s first-choice goalkeeper. There have been advocates of the stopper for years and several, including this writer, would have had him between the sticks at last year’s FIFA World Cup.

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It seemed like the only way was up. Perhaps understandably, when Clarence Seedorf left Botafogo to manage Milan, his former team-mate was linked with the Rossoneri as a replacement for the ageing Christian Abbiati, as reported by Terra Esportes (link in Portuguese).

Following relegation, and as progress on that contract negotiation faltered, Santos were waiting in the wings. It may not be quite as big a step as one of Europe’s biggest clubs, but regular Brasileirao Serie A football had not impeded Jefferson’s Selecao progress under Dunga, and there was no reason to suddenly suggest it would have in 2015.

Can he say the same when he has lumbered himself with a second division slog? Could anyone connected to the club have blamed Jefferson for his desire to abandon a rapidly sinking ship?

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It is said that the best strikers on the planet are selfish deep down, but ultimately that is true of any athlete who shows ruthless ambition. And to be a success at international level, an element of that ruthlessness and demonstration of your ambition to strive must be evident.

That is where Jefferson has fallen down and quite possibly drawn a line under what could have been a number of years representing the Selecao.

Meanwhile, the trio of goalkeepers who would appear to be his nearest rivals for the jersey—Diego Alves, Neto and Rafael Cabral—are all playing in big European leagues.

Alves once again proved his pedigree this past weekend, making an incredible 14th penalty stop in his career to date. Neto looks set to leave Fiorentina at the end of the season but could switch to Italian giants Juventus, where he would become the eager student of a certain Gianluigi Buffon, as reported by Fox Sports Brasil (link in Portuguese).

Jefferson, meanwhile, in staying put is actually going backwards. He can hardly be shocked if his loyalty pays against him.