Beşiktaş's boys from Brazil

By Türker Tozar

After last season, Beşiktaş JK might have been forgiven for being more cautious in signing players from abroad. Last summer, the Istanbul club recruited a number of foreign personnel but a fourth-placed finish in the Superleague was a sign that the policy was not a huge success.

Quick departures
Two of their highest-profile signings have now left, with John Carew joining Olympique Lyonnais and Juanfran heading to AFC Ajax on loan, but two more big names have come in to replace them. And the early indications are that Brazilians Kléberson and Ailton may settle better than their predecessors.

Bargain buy
Defensive midfielder Kléberson, bought for €2.5m from Manchester United FC, was considered something of a bargain, considering he cost the Premiership team €8.5m from Clube Atlético Paranaense two seasons ago. However, the 26-year-old has much to prove after an injury-ravaged spell at Old Trafford.

Excellent skills
Nonetheless, while he drifted in and out of Sir Alex Ferguson's plans at club level, he never strayed far from the Brazil side where his versatility has made him a regular choice. With great positional sense, Kléberson boasts excellent passing skills and can play with both feet.

Shoulder-high
He received a hero's welcome when he arrived in Turkey, with Beşiktaş fans carrying him shoulder-high through the airport. "I have never been treated so magnificently," he told the club's official website. "I have quickly realised that I have moved from one giant team to another."

Prolific Ailton
The settling-in process will have been made easier by the presence of Ailton, the striker landed earlier in the summer from FC Schalke 04. The 32-year-old made his name in Europe during a six-year spell with Werder Bremen, scoring 88 goals in 169 appearances, and will be keen to rediscover his best form after a mixed year at Schalke.

Hungry striker
"I feed my hunger when I score goals," said the chubby Brazilian. "Goals are my food." He has experienced a taste of the Superleague already having scored in 2-0 wins against Denizlispor and Gençlerbirligi SK, and is certainly enjoying life in Istanbul.

'Special chants'
"My family and I feel great in Turkey," he said. "My team-mates help me on and off the pitch. The fans have made up special chants for me and that has never happened in the other countries I have played in. This is tremendous for me, if slightly unexpected."

Title ambitions
The best way to show his gratitude, of course, would be to help Beşiktaş win the title - something he believes is within their reach. "We are a family here at Beşiktaş," he said. "Staying united could take us to the league crown. If we do this we can be champions. I believe this from the heart."

European prospects
They also have the chance of European glory in the UEFA Cup. Having won 1-0 in the away leg of their second qualifying round tie against FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein, Beşiktaş need only avoid defeat at home to progress, something they should be capable of doing even without Kléberson, who was not registered in time to play.

Strength in adversity
Beyond that lies the first round, then the group stage, and an opportunity to prove their worth in Europe. Both Beşiktaş and their two Brazilian signings have a point to prove after a difficult 2004/05 campaign. Those doldrums days could all work to their advantage in the long run.