Newcastle’s announcement of Jamal Lewis’s loan to Brazilian giants Sao Paulo for the season raised quite a few eyebrows.
The Northern Ireland international is set to make history as the first British player to don the Sao Paulo jersey upon his debut.
5
At Sao Paulo, a club that has clinched the Brazilian Serie A title six times, Lewis will join forces with former Tottenham star Lucas Moura and ex-Bayern Munich players Rafinha and Luiz Gustavo.
While Lewis prepares for this significant transition, he may face several culture shocks along the way.
Take it from Seth Burkett, a former non-league defender turned writer, who played professionally in Brazil with Sorriso Esporte Clube (EC) from 2009 to 2010.
During an appearance on talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Jacobs, the 33-year-old recounted his unusual journey from Peterborough to South America.
Burkett shared how a Brazilian agent, who became involved with Stamford while he was playing there, suggested the under-18s take a trip to Brazil for a youth tournament in Salvador.
« It was an incredible experience, » Burkett told talkSPORT.
However, he described Stamford’s first match as a ‘sobering’ experience, especially considering the opposing team included two future Liverpool stars: Alisson and Philippe Coutinho.
« Our first game of the tournament was against Brazil’s national team, which was quite a reality check for an under-18 non-league team, » Burkett admitted.
« Alisson was in goal; I didn’t get close to him, and Coutinho was also playing. Both were exceptional players. Alisson wasn’t yet widely recognized, but we were warned to keep an eye on Coutinho since he had just signed for Inter Milan. »
5
5
5
Though Stamford didn’t make a significant impact in the tournament, Burkett was lucky enough to be invited for training with Brazilian club Vitoria.
From there, Sorriso EC, located in the state of Mato Grosso, offered him a chance to return for a season.
« Initially, I went out to play in the Copa Sao Paulo, which is akin to the FA Youth Cup, » Burkett explained.
« Later, not due to my football skills but because I generated a lot of media attention for the club, I was offered a professional contract. I was clearly the weakest player on the team, but it was an unforgettable experience. »
As the only British professional in Brazil at the time, many questioned Burkett’s decision to play there, to which he responded that it was all due to Brazil’s rich footballing history.
However, he offered Lewis a stern warning about the challenges of adapting, particularly regarding the language barrier.
« It was really tough (to adapt), » Burkett recalled.
« I was 18 when I made the move, and I thought everyone would speak English, but it turned out no one did. »
Language barriers are just one of the adjustments Lewis may need to make.
Burkett discussed the stark contrasts in training methods between England and Brazil, suggesting that Lewis will find himself on the pitch much longer than he might expect.
« In England, it’s usually 90 minutes and then it’s done, » Burkett explained. « In Brazil, training sessions can last two-and-a-half to three hours, often consisting of double sessions.
« In that heat, it can be tough. I noticed that in the youth team, everything revolves around the ball. Even during a 40-minute recovery run, you carry the ball and jog around the pitch.
« But in the senior professional setup, I found that there wasn’t much ball work involved at all. »
5
Burkett shared insights into his experience at the Sorriso EC academy and the living arrangements there.
While Lewis is far less likely to encounter a similar situation, it’s bound to provide him with valuable insight into the experiences of his new teammates.
« The football club I was at bought a garage where the entire team lived after it was converted into a three-bedroom house, » Burkett recounted.
« There were 28 of us in bunk beds with bars on the windows, and no doors on the toilets; the showers consisted of just concrete blocks. This was intentionally designed.
« They said, ‘In England, young players are given so much; how can they maintain their drive and motivation?’ Even the best clubs in Brazil require their young players to live in tough conditions to keep them motivated. »
Lewis will link up with his new teammates after Northern Ireland’s Nations League matches against Luxembourg and Bulgaria.
The 26-year-old joins Brazil after a loan spell at Championship side Watford, where he played 38 matches throughout the season.
Since moving to Newcastle in September 2020, Lewis featured 26 times in his first season. However, he has struggled to maintain a spot in the lineup, playing just ten times over the following two seasons.
https://talksport.com/football/2035175/i-played-alisson-coutinho-lived-with-27-others/
