Cleo called from warm Brazil: If Partizan calls me, i am coming, that is my dream (PHOTO)

He was shortly Delije's favorite (Red Star fans), and he will be forever an idol for Grobari (Partizan fans). He came to Serbia as anonymous from a Portuguese second league team, and left as a star with Serbian passport in his pocket. Brazilian striker, Cléverson Gabriel Córdova, better known as Cleo, is one of the foreigners who left the deepest mark in Serbian football.  

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As a player, he crossed the border rarely anyone crossed in their football history in Serbia. As a man, Cleo was remembered by his modesty. All the time he played for Partizan, he said that he couldn't believe what is happening to him - that he is playing for the best team in the league, that he is the most popular player.

When i arrived to Belgrade, i was impressed. With the city, and with the eternal rivals. He said that Brazilians are not aware how great Red Star and Partizan are. And his family was amazed with living in Belgrade.

- My trip to Serbia went over manager Ranko Stojic who told me about Red Star and asked if i would like to play for them. I agreed and as it turned out, i wasn't wrong. First of all, because Red Star is a great club, and because that decision took me to Partizan. The club i spent the most beautiful part of my life - said Cleo.

Foto: Izaberi Partizan

Brazilian felt great pressure because of this transfer. At that time he found out that its been 30 years since some player went from one side of Topcider hill to the other. He received threats, Delije booed him, they spread fliers with insulting messages, and he didn't even fight it.    

- When i went from Red Star to Partizan, all i thought about is to play the best i could, which wasn't so hard for me because i fell in love with Partizan immediately. The only thing important for me is for Grobari to recognize that love for Partizan, and i didn't even pay attention to the other side - Cleo is sincere.

All of the people who spent some time with him, remember him by his modesty. It is known that he chose to go to China after Partizan, with the offers from Liverpool, Marseilles, Lion and Fiorentina. His only goal was for  his family to live decently.

Foto: Izaberi Partizan

Because of that, but mostly because of his undeniable quality - he became the most expensive transfer of the Chinese league. He went from the club with well regulated system to the club that perhaps didn't even have a field. Six years later, he discovered to if he regrets is.

- No, i don't have any regrets, not for a single moment, because at the time, i took the best financial offer, of course Marseilles and Liverpool were great opportunities, but with transfer to Asia i managed to provide to my family, and that was most important to me - he told us honestly.

In the meantime he got another son and he sent us pictures from warm Brazil. Warm-hearted, as always, he is still hoping to return to Belgrade.

Foto: Privatna arhiva/Iluminart

Foto: Foto: Privatna arhiva/Iluminart

He said that nothing has changed and that he and Grobari are still dreaming the same dream.

- Return to Partizan is my dream, the club where i spent the best part of my life. If the opportunity shows itself to me to wear the black-and-white jersey again, i won't think more than a second - revealed Cleo with his recognizable smile.

Foto: Foto: Privatna arhiva/Iluminart

Although he excelled in the black-and-white jersey on the first day and was the star among the fans, Cleo never acted that way and never demanded special treatment.  

The day after the game where he was the best player and where he scored, perhaps, the most attractive goal with scissors, Partizan players were supposed to travel to Sarajevo to play a friendly match.

Most of the players refused to go so they can get some rest, so the coach at the time, Aleksandar Stanojevic, decided to take his B team. However, Cleo volunteered to go, even though he didn't get any sleep because his son was sick.  

Foto: Foto: Privatna arhiva/Iluminart

When they went on the trip, no one of the Partizan B team offered him the seat on the back of the bus so he could sleep, so he lied down on the floor of the bus, without thinking and slept through the entire way. When we reminded him about that he had a long laugh.

- Yes, that is correct. I am a big man and i need some space, but i also like sleeping on the floor - he said.

He did not protest or complain to anybody. He stepped out of the bus with smile, as always, and played the game as if it was competition and not friendly game.

(Telegraf.co.uk / Jasmina Stakić/j.stakic@telegraf.rs)