A Brazilian former professional footballer who has played for clubs around the world has signed for East Sheen Football Club in the 11th tier of English football.
Guilherme Bortoletto Dos Santos joined the newly-revived south west London club this summer after turning down offers from Spain and Italy.
The 30-year-old attacking midfielder spent 12 years in professional football in Brazil, Portugal, Greece, Montenegro and Italy.
The player came to south west London to study cybersecurity at the University of Roehampton when he received a call from Matthew Evans, the chairman of East Sheen Football Club, asking if he’d like to play for them.
Bortoletto said: “Now I want to stay in the UK to study for my degree, but also play.”
Bortoletto signed his first professional contract at 17, and by 18 was playing in the São Paulo under-20 championship – one of the most important youth sport competitions in Brazil.
He went on to play football across Europe, but his time as a professional ended prematurely due to a knee injury.
He said: “One day you are like a king, and when you wake up, no one remembers you.”
Bortoletto is one of two former professionals in the East Sheen squad, alongside Gideon Lloyd, who played in the Gibraltar Super League last season.
He said: “Everything in East Sheen is good, especially the staff and the players. I’m happy here in the community and the team.”
Featured image credit: jacobwvisuals.co.uk
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