Brazilian football attracting Colombians with European wages and a springboard to the national team | OneFootball

Brazil’s top clubs are increasingly recruiting Colombians for their technical profile, a trend underscored by recent national-team call-ups. According to Globo.com, four Brasileirão players made Néstor Lorenzo’s squad and another 13 in Brazil were on Colombia’s 55-man pre-list to FIFA.

Palmeiras’ Arias, Flamengo’s Carrascal, Athletico-PR’s Portilla and Vasco’s Andrés Gómez were selected. Gómez, who joined Vasco in August 2025, has impressed after an adaptation period and believes the league’s visibility and physical demands have raised his profile and value.

The influx has accelerated under a CBF rule allowing up to nine foreign players per team. This season 27 Colombians have appeared in Série A, the highest since 2020.

Former Botafogo analyst Raphael Rezende says Colombians often combine physique with technique, which appeals to buyers in the Americas. He also cites adaptation hurdles, from culture to a more intense, compact and defensively committed game. Colombian arrivals trail only Argentines, ahead of Uruguayans.

With rising revenues, clubs have paid about 25 million euros for Jhon Arias at Palmeiras and roughly 12 million euros for Flamengo’s Carrascal. Both are heading to the World Cup. European-level salaries and Brazil’s visibility in the Libertadores and Club World Cup entice Colombians as a springboard to the national team or Europe.

Even outside the final cut, figures like Athletico-PR’s top scorer Viveros, Inter’s experienced Borré and Vasco midfielder Rojas remain on Colombia’s radar. The connection between the two countries looks set to deepen.

Source: Globo.com