THE BLACK MARADONAMaicon Vinicius da Silva, or Nicão as he is better known, was an international headliner by the age of twelve. Now, still only thirteen, he is the property of PSV Eindhoven. The ambitious Dutch club struck a unique agreement with Nicão's existing employers, Mirassol (a modest club from the state of São Paulo, currently languishing in the regional championships' second division), to contract the player in June of last year. Nicão's list of admirers had been elongating rapidly, since word spread of his precocious talent. Amongst them was Corinthians, Barcelona of Spain and Russian outfit CSKA Moscow. All parties had been left flabbergasted by video footage of Nicão's extraordinary talent. Vanderlei Luxemburgo, the then-coach of Santos, himself enthused about the teenager with the world at his feet.The agreement will see the player – who by law is unable to sign a professional contract until he reaches sixteen - commute between Brazil and Holland. This will allow the kid nicknamed 'The Black Maradona' to continue his progression through the youth ranks at the Mirassol club, and make quarterly trips to the Netherlands, where he will stay for periods of time. Whilst doing so, he will be in receipt of a $500 monthly salary (courtesy of PSV, of course) and has already gained a plush apartment in Holland (where he will reside with his Grandmother and his personal coach) and an apartment in his native Brazil.Having been orphaned, he had spent the entrieity of his life living with his grandmother in a Brazilian shanty. As a very young child, Nicão had survived on a diet of fubá (a maize product almost exclusive to the Americas) and water, and even by the time he was discovered by a Mirassol associate, he was suffering from malnutrition. However, this did not discourage interest in the kid, who club president described as a "phenomenal talent, the best player I have seen in thirty years of football."Granted, Nicão still has a long way to go before he makes his professional debut, but that won’t stop dreamy PSV fans reminiscing about the impact young Brazilians have made at the club, in previous years. A decade ago, a Brazilian teenager by the name of Ronaldinho graced the club with his presence. Today, that same player is known simply as Ronaldo, has been thrice named F.I.F.A World Footballer of the Year and won a catalogue of honours at both club and international level. Fans at the Philips Stadion, will be hoping that this latest phenomenon can go on to fulfill his enormous potential.I have done this thread in the talkchelsea forum a while back. When this boy does well at psv like romario and ronaldo, we could end up with a great player in future. Psv are a great club in getting brazilian youngster's.
