Leandro Damiao

Leandro Damiao da Silva dos Santos (Brazilian Portuguese: [leˈɐ̃dɾu daˈmjɐ̃w̃]; born 22 July 1989), known as Leandro Damiao or simply Damiao, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Japanese club Kawasaki Frontale as a striker. He has been capped at international level by Brazil.

Club Career

Early career

Damiao began his career as a midfielder, playing for local teams in Jardim Alegre, Parana. Having failed a trial as a midfielder at Atletico Ibirama, he had a new opportunity as a striker and was signed by team.

Damiao was first loaned to XV de Outubro de Indaial before playing the 2008 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie C for Marcilio Dias; he would later join Cidade Azul in the same year. Back to Atletico Ibirama, he scored 12 goals in the 2009 Campeonato Catarinense and was transferred to Internacional.

Internacional

At Internacional, he won three titles with the club's under-20 side and earned a call-up to the B team. He scored twice in his Campeonato Gaucho debut and was then called up to the first team for their 2010 Copa Libertadores campaign. Damiao won his first major title in August 2010 when he helped Internacional defeat Guadalajara in the Copa Libertadores Finals. He scored the club's second goal in their second leg victory in Porto Alegre to win the competition 5–3 on aggregate. His performances at the Porto Alegre club earned him a place in the Brazil national football team and praise from Ronaldo, also drawing the interest of European clubs.

During the 2013 summer, he had offers from English side Tottenham Hotspur and Italian club Napoli. He was close to join the Italian side, but the deal fell through because "sponsorship contracts made it impossible". Even though the club bought Gonzalo Higuain after failing to land the Brazilian striker, Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurenti

This page also has a version in other languages :  Леандро Дамиан (russian)