South American Profiles: Valdivia

Jorge Luis Valdivia Toro, more commonly known as simply Valdivia and nicknamed El Mago, was born in Venezuela to Chilean parents and is by choice, Chilean.

Chilean club Colo Colo's youth program was where Valdivia started out. However, playing for Universidad de Concepcion was his first major stepping stone as he was the highlight of the Chilean Championship that year, taking his club to classifications in both the Libertadores and Sul-Americana Cups.

The central playmaker, who confesses to have always dreamt of playing in Brazil, played a key role in Palmeiras taking the Sao Paulo Championship in 2008, after some 12 years without winning the cup. Wanderley Luxemburgo took the midfielder under his wing and Valdivia ended up being voted the MVP of the Paulistao in 2008.

Coincidentally, the last time Palmeiras had won this title was also under the command of Luxemburgo, in 1996, with players such as, Cafu, Djalminha and Rivaldo taking part and shortly after, moving on to lucrative European contracts.

The road to the Paulistao title this year meant getting past the likes of ex-FIFA Club World Champions Corinthians and Emperor Adriano's Sao Paulo. Valdivia was quoted saying, "Brazilian football is the most competitive in the world," in an interview given earlier this year. 

El Mago has played in Chile, Brazil, Spain and Switzerland. German club Hertha Berlin attempted to negotiate his transfer offering eight million euros to Palmeiras in August. Hamburg also entered into negotiations but no official figure was disclosed. The Hertha and Hamburg offers were turned down and surprisingly Valdivia and Palmeiras have ended up accepting a transfer to the Middle East where he will begin playing for Al Ain, for the very same eight million euros.

In a world of increasingly globalised football, who knows if an impressive Middle Eastern season could mean a contract for Manchester City in the next season. Whatever the reasons were, Al Ain have sealed a contract with Valdivia until 2012. He has yet to play his first match with his new kit.