The Red Bulls say newly-signed defender Digão, Kaka’s 26-year-old younger brother, is fit enough to play and they’re just awaiting paperwork to add him to the roster. And Digao said his world-famous brother could just be waiting for the right time to become a Red Bull himself.
“He’s always mentioned that, yes, he does want to come play here. But obviously with his current contract and where he is, he wouldn’t be able to come now,’’ Digão said of his older brother, whom the Red Bulls tried to acquire from Real Madrid this summer before signing Tim Cahill instead. “But in the future, yes, he obviously likes the city and likes the place, so it’s a possibility.’’
What they do have is Digão, who is hoping to get his P-1 visa by Thursday and state his case as a starting-caliber player over the final stretch of the season.
“Obviously realizing I’m coming in the middle of the year to strengthen the team, whatever it may be,’’ said Digão. “My goal is always the higher one, so yes to compete ultimately for a (starting) spot if I can strengthen the team in that way. The idea is to come in, prove myself toward the end of the year so that I can stay here for years to come.’’
He hasn’t played an official match in November, but coach Hans Backe says the Brazilian centerback has arrived in good condition, vital in his signing since there are only six games left in the regular-season.
“He’s doing well. He’s been here for a couple of weeks now. He’s been solid,’’ said Backe, who proclaimed his new defender fit to play. “He’s a good centerback, strong in the air, physically-strong. He’s a big boy, also very composed. I don’t know when we get the paperwork done, but he’s done well.
“He looks good. We have tested him, done the necessary testing you need, so I would say he should be ready to play if we want. That was also of course something we wanted when you sign as guy when you have seven games to go. You can’t take a couple of months to get him fit; it has to be a guy that very soon can help.’’
The 6-foot-4 Digão, through translator Ricardo Campos, said he’s quicker than most people expect, and added he’ll also make a quick adjustment to New York.
“I’ve lived eight years abroad, different places, so it won’t be any problem. Americans are more friendly than any other place,’’ said Digão, whose contract runs through the ends at the end of the season, but includes options. “It ends this year, then there are three more options.’’
Which of course opens the possibility of playing alongside Kaka, if the former FIFA World Player of the Year decides to come to the Red Bulls. Digão had been signed by AC Milan back in 2004 at the age of 19, a year after Kaka had moved to the Serie A power.
“My brother obviously really likes New York. That’s why he bought an apartment here. All he had to say was really good things. He really likes it here, and wants to live here obviously, since he bought an apartment,’’ said Digão, who is living in New Jersey in a team hotel, not in his brother’s luxury Manhattn apartment.
“We played together in 2007-2008 at Milan. And obviously it’s depending more on my brother than on me. Yes, I’d like to play with my brother again, definitely. Will that influence my brother to come here? I don’t know; it’s very hard to know. But yeah, if it’s a choice, for me, yes. But it’s obviously my brother’s choice to come here or not.’’