Club career
Brazil
Born in São Paulo, Diogo started his football career at Associação Portuguesa de Desportos. He promptly made an impressive name for himself at the club, breaking into the first-team in 2007–08, and largely contributing to the second division side ‘s forwarding, scoring 18 goals in 28 games – season ‘s best – and being voted the competition ‘s best player .
It was this form which initially prompted brazilian under-20 coach Nélson Rodrigues to include Diogo in his team ( he had already played in previous national young person teams ). In the 2008 season, Diogo had his first taste of top-flight football with Portuguesa, and showed early good human body with six goals in 13 games. [ 1 ] Early in the lapp year, club president of the united states Manuel district attorney Lupa said he was angstrom good as if not better than A.C. Milan ’ sulfur adolescent sensation Alexandre Pato ; he added that Diogo had only shown 50 % of his capability due to coherent injuries. [ 2 ]
In July 2008, several teams had been attracted to Diogo ‘s talents. The actor had revealed his desire to play his craft in Europe, after longtime admirers Arsenal were joined by ACF Fiorentina in bid for his services. He had been monitored by Arsenal ‘s scouting department for more than two years, and the London golf club tried three times to sign him, failing on all occasions – this included a £ 9,000,000 offer, promptly rejected by Portuguesa. [ 3 ] Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger besides publicly stated that he had tried to sign Diogo once, as a 16-year old. [ 4 ]
Reading: Diogo Luis Santo
Olympiakos
greek side Olympiacos F.C. besides became matter to and, in a widely-documented and reasonably controversial menstruation of negotiation, Diogo finally signed for the club in August 2008, for € 9,000,000 and 70 % of the player ‘s rights. [ 5 ] Arriving in Athens on the 19th, he passed his medical the comply day and, on August 21, signed a five-year abridge, which earned him a reported 1.2 million annually. His purchase represented a major coup d’etat for Olympiakos, with Diogo rated as one of Brazil ‘s best prospects. “ I am felicitous that I have come to play for a major baseball club like Olympiakos. I will do my best to satisfy the club ‘s administration and supporters ”, he far added. [ 6 ]
Diogo made his first appearance for Olympiacos in the temper ‘s opener, against Asteras Tripolis, on 30 August 2008. On 6 September, he found the final from the penalty spot against Ionikos FC, in a friendly equal .
In the second round, Diogo scored the bet on ‘s only finish, at Skoda Xanthi. During his first season, he besides showcased his good lead ability, scoring many of his goals from headers. At one bespeak, he was the player with more goals netted with that particular body share, at four.
In the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, Diogo scored twice goals in the 5–0 base wallow against FC Nordsjælland on 2 October, adding two more in the club ‘s 5–1 home win against S.L. Benfica in the following month, besides in the group stage. [ 7 ] Hence, heightened rumours of a big-money transfer to Europe ‘s elect – and again to England – surfaced, whilst the player was ranked 7th ( out of 50 ) in The Daily Telegraph ‘s list of Footballers Transfer Target List. [ 8 ] Eventually, Olympiakos won the double .
In October 2008, farther interest rise, now from three other Premier League outfits, Middlesbrough, Chelsea and Liverpool. [ 9 ] The latter ‘s bus, Rafael Benítez, again declare matter to in the player in March of the following class, preparing to offer £ 12 million to acquire his services. [ 10 ] Anfield scouts had been said to have checked on the 21-year-old, seeing him as a perfect substitute for dead person Robbie Keane. Benítez then loaned Argentine midfielder Sebastián Leto to Olympiakos, far fueling rumours that the player would be included in a trade share, but nothing came to realization, with Leto rather moving to rivals Panathinaikos FC. [ 11 ]
Diogo ‘s second season at Olympiacos was black for both him and the team, suffering several injuries which limited to merely slenderly more than half of the games, scoring barely two goals and losing his home in the starting lineup to Kostantinos Mitroglou.
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In 2010–11, he started by scoring doubly against Besa Kavajë of Albania in a 5–0 away win ( 11–1 on aggregate ) for the UEFA Europa League. however, in the competition ‘s adjacent cycle, against Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, he was sent off after punching opposing goalkeeper Liran Strauber, in a 0–1 away loss that besides meant Olympiacos ‘ elimination, on the away goals rule. [ 12 ]
That proved to be a decisive action for his future in the team, as Olympiacos decided to give him on loanword in Flamengo for 6 months. After the end of his lend period, he continued his career in Santos for 1 year, distillery on lend from Olympiacos .
International career
Diogo represented the brazilian home team at youth levels. He was set to be picked for Brazil ‘s 2008 Olympic football squad, but an wound forced him out. [ 13 ]
Honours
Club statistics
(Statistics correct as of November 28, 2010)
References
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Diogo Luis Santo |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | |
| Date of birth | 26 May 1987 |
| Place of birth | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |