Denilson in Big D

The Hunt Sports Group & FC Dallas are going to put Major League Soccer's Designated Player Rule (aka "The Beckham Rule") to use in its signing this week of Brazilian midfielder Denílson de Oliveira Araújo. A little "Jogo Bonito" might be all that's needed to sweep the Hoops into the MLS Cup (November 18th in RFK Stadium) for the first time in the club's 11 year history.

He won't be arriving as a very familiar name here in Texas. Aside from international glory on the 2002 World Cup Champion Brazil team, he played in Spain's La Liga for Real Betis Balompié (Sevilla) from 2001-2005. After Spain, he went to play in Bordeaux. A year later, Bordeaux was unable to match his salary demands. Off he went to Saudi Arabia to play for Al Nasr in Riyadh where he must've found little beyond riyal paradise: a soccer mirage. Come on now, a swinging, young Brazilian soccer star in Saudi Arabia? What was he thinking?!

If the contractual negotiations are any indicator, Denilson, 27, could prove to be inconsistent. The talks are rumored to have gone back and forth: frustratingly fickle, lasting all summer and having ended on a variety of occasions without a contract. On his Wikipedia entry, he's described as:

A player of outstanding close control and dexterity, Denílson is renowned for his 'stand still' stepovers, with many referring to the skill as the "Denílson".

This could be a very sly signing on behalf of Coach Steve Morrow. He & GM Michael Hitchcock have brought in some wonderful talent from south of the border. The Denilson contract won't be for anything in the range of the David Beckham's signing. It will be interesting to find out how much of a financial gamble FC Dallas are taking here.