Speaking at the Trento Sports Festival, Brazilian football legend Cafu shared fascinating insights into his illustrious career, including some surprising revelations about his transfers and early struggles.
Reflecting on his humble beginnings, Cafu said, “The start for a Brazilian is not easy. I didn’t have the means to take a bus or a taxi. But even though I lived in a certain neighborhood… I wanted to be a footballer. Period. I had set my mind to it. My father and mother were extremely important. That neighborhood was poor but it gave me everything. I was born and raised there. I had respect for everyone and vice versa.”
Interestingly, Cafu wasn’t the only talented footballer in his family. “My brother was much better than me: he had an incredible left foot,” he revealed. “But in a family with 6 brothers, someone had to go to work. My brother was better than me, but he told me: ‘Yes, I’m better than all of you, but you’re the most passionate. I think you want it more. I’ll give up and you go play.’ I do everything I can for my brothers.”
Cafu’s path to success wasn’t smooth. He shared, “I tried out for São Paulo 4 times but they rejected me 4 times. I would go home, train, and come back to try out again.”
The Brazilian star also disclosed some intriguing transfer stories. “I was supposed to go to Parma with Capello,” he said, before adding, “After Roma, I was supposed to go to a Japanese team that had already deposited the money in my account. I called and said, ‘Guys, I have a small problem. Milan has called me.’ I went to Milan and they were a bit angry with me. Milan didn’t pay me as much as the Japanese team, but come on, it was Milan.”
Cafu’s loyalty to Milan was evident in his final years there. “In 2006, I told Galliani that I would leave in 2008 because I wanted to return to Brazil to be with my father. Summer 2008: two months before, Galliani and Leonardo called me. I went to the office and they gave me another year of contract. I said it was a huge pleasure but that I would leave. I was very happy but I wanted to go home. The end had come and I left.”
