| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rodrigo Pereira Possebon | ||
| Date of birth | 13 February 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Sapucaia do Sul, Brazil | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Central midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Santos | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2008 | Internacional | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2008–2010 | Manchester United | 3 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | → Braga (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2010– | Santos | 31 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2009 | Italy U20 | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 7, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Rodrigo Pereira Possebon (born 13 February 1989) is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Santos and, by virtue of his ancestry, the Italian U-20 national team. He signed for Santos from Manchester United on 20 August 2010.[2] He previously played for Internacional in Brazil, and went on loan to Braga of Portugal for the first half of the 2009–10 season.
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Born in Sapucaia do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Possebon began his football career playing for Internacional in a defensive midfield role. Possebon was spotted by Manchester United's Brazil-based scout, John Calvert-Toulmin, while following up the club's interest in twin full backs, Fábio and Rafael da Silva.[3]
Manchester United signed Possebon in January 2008, and since his father is of Italian descent, Possebon qualified for an Italian passport, and so was not subject to European Union legislation regarding non-Europeans working in Europe.[4] Possebon was allocated the number 34 shirt, which was vacated by Ryan Shawcross, for the remainder of the 2007–08 Premier League season.[5] He made his professional debut for the club as a substitute, coming on for Ryan Giggs during the second half of the 1–1 draw with Newcastle United on 17 August.[6]
On 23 September 2008, during a Football League Cup match, he was injured in a challenge by Middlesbrough captain Emanuel Pogatetz, for which the Austrian player received a straight red card.[7] It was initially feared that he had broken his leg, but Manchester United later confirmed otherwise.[8] Possebon made his return from injury on 22 October 2008, scoring in the Manchester United Reserves' 3–0 win over Manchester City.[9]
Possebon made his FA Cup debut on 13 February 2009, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo in a Fifth Round fixture with Derby County.[10][11] On 1 March 2009, Possebon won his first major trophy in English football after he was part of the Manchester United squad that beat Tottenham Hotspur 4–1 on penalties after the 2009 League Cup final finished goalless.[12]
Possebon joined Braga on loan, initially for the entire duration of the 2009–10 season.[13] However, after falling out of favour, he returned to Old Trafford in January, after making just one appearance for the club.[14]
On 19 August 2010, Santos announced that they had agreed terms with Possebon for his transfer from Manchester United. The two teams were still negotiating the fee for the transfer, but an announcement by Manchester United indicated that the transfer would be completed by the following day.[2]
Possebon made his Santos debut in an away draw against Atlético Mineiro.[15]
Although he was born in Brazil, Possebon was eligible for an Italian passport due to his father's ancestry. He applied for an Italian passport when signing for Manchester United, in order to avoid work permit legislation for non-EU citizens working in the United Kingdom.[4] Following a relatively successful first season with Manchester United, Possebon received a call-up from Italy under-20 coach Francesco Rocca for the penultimate match of the 2008–09 Four Nations tournament against Germany on 22 April 2009.[16]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other[17] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United | 2008–09 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Braga (loan) | 2009–10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Santos | 2010 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 27 | 1 | |
| Total | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 30 | 1 | |
| Career total | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 39 | 1 | |
Statistics accurate as of match played 23 July 2011[18]
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