This is the first time access has been granted to Manchester
United's academy project in Brazil, a multi-million pound
investment cut deep into Sao Paulo's crusty terrain.
Just three months into this amazing programme they opened their
doors, giving Sport of the World the freedom to walk around this
first-class facility 90 minutes outside the city limits.
It is here that the 108 teenagers, some of them with posters of
Cristiano Ronaldo on the walls of their dormitories, dream of
earning a multi-million pound move to Old Trafford. United have
first option to sign the youngsters for a pre-agreed, fixed fee
after signing a partnership agreement with Desportivo Brasil
earlier this year.
"If one player is considered good enough to move to Manchester
United, it will prove we are doing the right thing and heading in
the right direction," claimed academy manager Rodolfo
Canavesi.
They can only move if they meet stringent work permit
requirements by making progress through various age groups with the
Brazilian national side, or qualifying for a European
passport.
Kids like Diego, who scored a typical Brazilian goal by fading a
long-range strike past the keeper in an Under-17 game against GR
Barueri last weekend, could be United's future.
Others, such as Junior, Cabeca, Emerson and Augusto, could all
become household names, wearing United's red shirt and earning
£150,000-a-week.
These starry-eyed youngsters go to bed at night dreaming of a
call from Sir Alex Ferguson, a lucrative contract and the chance to
play in the Champions League against Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC
Milan.
Ferguson demands regular updates from the club's head of player
recruitment Geoff Watson, monitoring their progress as part of
Manchester United's masterplan.
United's academy director Brian McClair has visited the project,
passing on tips to the young players. McClair was in Northern
Ireland last month to watch them compete in the Milk Cup. It was an
opportunity to witness the progress of Brazil's brightest talent in
tournament conditions.
There are already plans in place for United to send their
academy teams to Sao Paulo to play in a tournament next year.
Brazilian football's top clubs sell their stars early,
unable to compete with the salaries on offer in Europe. Kaka left
Sao Paulo for Milan at 21, Robinho was sold by Santos at the same
age and the Silva twins signed for United when they were only
17.
The entire project is entirely within FIFA rules, with United
providing technical support, mentoring the kids as they progress
through the academy and offering the prospect of playing for
United's first team.
Some of the best young players have already visited Carrington
for a look around the dressing rooms where they could touch the
shirts of Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand.
They have all been cherry-picked by Desportivo Brasil, who are
owned by Brazilian sports marketing firm Traffic, as part of a plan
to prepare them for a career in Europe.
These talented Brazilians stay at the academy, where they live
and breathe the beautiful game, walking past inspirational pictures
of Aldair, Rivelino, Tostao, Zico and Pele on their way to
training.
When they leave their fancy footwork behind on the five training
pitches, they are powering up in the gym by following tailored
weight-training programmes, specifically designed with the
combative nature of European football in mind.
Desportivo's Under-15 team is already much stronger physically
than their rivals at Corinthians, Sao Paulo or Cruzeiro. In the
afternoons they take English lessons, preparing them for a future
playing football abroad, joining the 300 or so Brazilians currently
at clubs in Europe.
Their schooling, accommodation at the academy and nutrition is
taken care of, all paid for and monitored meticulously by the
money-men at Desportivo Brasil.
"If they don't make it as professional footballers with United,
they will have a second language and that will open up other
opportunities for them," added Canavesi.
"For a Brazilian who can speak English, it means they can
instantly get work in hotels, they can work in business, finance or
another area."
For many of these kids this is the chance to leave behind the
favelas, the slums of Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre or Sao Paulo,
and become the darling of the Stretford End. "This is the key to a
better life for them and their families," said Canavesi.
On hand at the academy are four coaches for each category
(Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and professional), four fitness
coaches, four goalkeeping coaches, four masseurs and two
kitmen.
Off the field the players rely on the advice of a nutritionist,
a psychologist, three full-time physios, two physiologists and a
doctor.
The facilities are so high-spec that professional teams playing
in Sao Paulo stay at the academy instead of city centre
hotels.
United's highly-respected South American relationship manager
John Calvert-Toulmin politely declined a request to talk about the
partnership, citing a clause in his contract that prevents him
discussing club business.
Desportivo's young players are also protected from the media
spotlight, sidestepping various interview requests in order to
concentrate on their career.
The management at Desportivo Brasil are open, playing it by the
book as they sign up the superstars who will one day follow the
path of Kaka, Pato and Robinho.
They are currently top of the Sao Paulo State Championship in
each age category, quickly establishing themselves as a major force
in Brazilian football.
Of the 108 players contracted to Desportivo, two of them were
recommended to the club by United as outstanding talents.
There are no guarantees that they will make the move abroad, but
two bottles of champagne are already being chilled in the first
floor fridge. After this, it's only a matter of time before someone
pops the cork.