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Ricardo Oliveira: “My main focus is a win for the team”

Ricardo Oliveira says he is not concerning himself with his personal goals tally in the Etisalat Cup, and instead is fully focused on getting a win for his Al Jazira team. Oliveira is currently joint top scorer in the competition with Ajman’s Founeke Sy, as both players have scored 10 goals in the tournament so far this season, but the Brazilian striker insists he is not thinking about the golden boot. “I am not even thinking about the number of goals I’ve scored in the Etisalat Cup or whether I will be top scorer or not; my main focus is a win for the team and it does not matter whoever scores for us,” he explained. “Ajman is a good team with many strong players, especially in attack, so we must be focused in order against them. This is our only remaining chance to win something this season, and silverware is always Al Jazira’s ambition, so for us we must achieve this,” Oliveira continued.

Oliveira has had his fair share of success since signing for the Abu Dhabi-based club, and the Brazilian is not willing to slip up this season. “Since I set foot in Al Jazira Club we have always been competing to win all the competitions in which we participate. I have won the Etisalat Pro League and President’s Cup with the Club in 2010-2011 and then the President’s Cup again in 2011-2012, but I was away on loan when Al Jazira won the Etisalat Cup in the 2009-2010 season so this is one title that has eluded me here, and it makes me more motivated to win it this time,” Oliveira added.

Born on 6th May 1980 in Sao Paulo, Ricardo Oliveira began his career at Brazilian clubs Portuguesa and Santos, before making his first move to Europe in 2003 when he signed for Spanish La Liga side Valencia. After one season he moved to Real Betis, where he stayed until 2006, going back to Sao Paulo on loan briefly before signing for Italian giants AC Milan and turning out for the club from 2006-2008. He spent a season on loan back in Spain at Real Zaragoza, before switching permanently to the club in 2008 and then moving back to Real Betis a year later. His second spell at Betis was short-lived as he signed for Al Jazira in 2009, where he became an instant hit and fans’ favourite. Oliveira has represented Brazil at senior international level, scoring on his debut in 2004.