Rivaldo hails new star Franca

By AFP, 2000-05-26

LONDON, May 26 (AFP) - Brazil's world player of the year Rivaldo warned England here on Friday they have plenty to fear from the unknown when the two sides meet at Wembley.

While the likes of Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Romario have become international superstars, perhaps the most exciting striking talent in Brazil is a virtual unknown in Europe.

But all that is set to change on Saturday when the prodigious talent of the next Brazilian superstar is revealed under the Twin Towers.

Francoaldo Sena de Souza, known simply as Franca, is a superstar in his native country, unable to go out to restaurants for fear of being mobbed by his adoring fans.

The 24-year-old has scored an amazing 98 goals in just two years as a professional for Sao Paulo, including three hat-tricks and 17 goals this season, making him the top scorer in Brazil.

Yet his appearance against Wales on Tuesday was his first for his country at any level, although no lesser a judge than Barcelona star Rivaldo knows it will certainly not be his last.

"Look out for him," Rivaldo said. "He is the top scorer in Brazil but he will be in Europe very shortly."

That prophesy may well come true as the young star admits it is his "dream" to move to Europe, with Manchester United included among the list of great clubs he would like to join.

But his most pressing task will be to first complete a remarkable and arduous journey from Wembley to Rio this weekend to play two games in the space of 24 hours either side of an 11-hour trans-Atlantic flight.

Immediately after playing at Wembley, Franca will fly back to Rio and hopes to play in a crucial League game for Sao Paulo against Corinthians on Sunday afternoon.

"The club is waiting for me," he said. "I will get into Rio at 5.00am on Sunday and the game starts at 4.00pm. The team is counting on me but the doctor will decide if I can play.

"It's an 11-hour flight but I cannot sleep on planes so I will have no time to rest.

"The reason I was chosen to come and play against Wales and England was because it was a good chance for the manager to watch me in games without too much pressure."

Franca certainly impressed against Wales in Cardiff earlier this week, and was well-pleased with his performance and the reaction to it back home.

"Whenever a player is called into the national team for the first time in Brazil, there is a lot of pressure," he added.

"In Brazil we have a saying that the shirt weighs heavy, but after the game I read the papers in Brazil on the internet and they said that the shirt did not weigh heavy on me. That made me very happy.

"Against Wales I just did what I do for Sao Paulo, and a little bit more. It is important for me not to change because now people are saying I am wonderful.

"My most important virtue is modesty, I'm from a very humble family from the countryside in Brazil and I must maintain that modesty."

Such modesty means that Franca acknowledges that his place in the side will not be guaranteed should Ronaldo recover from his serious knee injury, suffered while playing for Inter Milan in Italy.

"When Ronaldo is fit he is unique, he is the very top," Franca added.

"We watched the game when he was injured and I went out to play four hours later, very depressed. I was really worried that could happen to me."