Real Madrid & Brazil
Full Name: Roberto Carlos da Silva
Date of Birth: April 10, 1973
Birthplace: Garca, Brazil
Height: 168 cm
Weight: 79 kg
Previous Clubs: União São João (Brazil), Palmeiras (Brazil), Internazionale (Italy)
A member of Brazil's team that lost the World Cup final 3-0 to France, Carlos is contracted to Real Madrid until June 2000 with a reported 100 million dollars get-out clause."I am not here (at Real Madrid) to become a millionaire.
I'm here to play football.I'm not a product which is continually up for sale," says Carlos. "I have a contract with Real Madrid and have to respect it. I'm happy in Spain.
I want to stay here. Why leave Real Madrid when it's here that I have achieved everything?" Quick in turning defence into attack down the left, the Brazilian international is a fine corner taker and has a devastating shot at set pieces.
Began his career as a forward at Uniao Sao Joao at 16 and represented Brazil for the first time at 18 in the 1992 Olympic qualifying tournament.
Endowed with a very powerful shot, he moved to Palmeiras. As a full-back he has won more plaudits for his attacking play than his defending. "I like to go up along the touchline but I also like defending. I'm learning to defend more," he says.
Was overlooked for the 1994 World Cup finals where Branco and Leonardo were preferred, likes his position. Moved to Inter for some $7 million but was unhappy when the club's English coach Roy Hodgson moved him up into midfield. After one season he moved on to Real Madrid, joining another of the Spanish club's Italian signings, coach Fabio Capello. A free kick specialist remembered for his spectacular goal against France in a summer international, Carlos says he works at his free-kicks every day and the only secret is concentration. "I always practise, every day. I prefer to kick with the outside of my foot. There's no secret, it's much more (a question of) concentration."
