Participation in the Mercedes-Benz JuniorCup in Sindelfingen last weekend was not the only reason for Sao Paulo FC’s recent trip to Germany. VfB and the Brazilian giants, who are based in VfB legend Cacau’s home city, used the Sao Paulo U19s’ visit to Stuttgart to put the seal on a pre-agreed partnership between the two teams at youth level. The wide-ranging collaboration was co-founded by Cacau and has been in the making for quite some time. The most talented Sao Paulo youth players of various age groups will travel to Stuttgart at least twice a year for several days at a time, training with VfB in order to gain valuable experience. VfB’s U19 and U17 teams will also hold their summer training camps in Sao Paulo, where they will train and play friendlies against their Brazilian counterparts, network with Sao Paulo coaches and get a taste of South American culture.
Rouven Kasper, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer at VfB Stuttgart, said: “We’re delighted to have found an incredibly well-known partner in Sao Paulo FC for our intercontinental talent development partnership. Our aim is to work together on an equal footing, content-wise. Both sides can learn and benefit from each other so that this cooperation can continue to grow in the future. Brazil is an important international target market for VfB and our regional partners, and we want to build bridges there together.”
“This partnership with Stuttgart is another important step in our entry into the European market and the internationalisation of our brand,” said Julio Casares, president of Sao Paulo FC. “The development of our talented youngsters is rooted in our DNA and fundamental for the future of Sao Paulo.”
After taking part in the Mercedes-Benz JuniorCup, the Sao Paulo U19s will stay in Stuttgart until Thursday before returning home. They will face the VfB U19s in a friendly on Tuesday, with joint workshops also planned with the aim of exchanging ideas.
About Sao Paulo FC
Founded on 25 January 1930, Sao Paulo Futebol Clube have won the Brazilian title six times and the Copa Libertadores, South America’s biggest continental competition, on three occasions. The club also boast a successful record at youth level, winning the U20 league – which was founded in 2006 – three times. Famous players such as Kaka, Cafu and Julio Baptista are all graduates of Sao Paulo’s youth academy. They have around 20 million supporters across the globe and are known for their distinctive red, white and black club colours.