1. Twenty-year-old Henrique’s biggest claim to fame thus far was his Golden Ball award for best player at the 2011 Under-20 World Cup. He was the tournament’s top-scorer with five goals, including two in the semi-final against Mexico.
2. The striker has bagged nine goals in sixteen games for his country at Under-20 and Under-22 level, but at club level his return has been far less consistant. In 2011, twenty-one appearances brought just three goals.
3. Henrique is strong and bullish, packs a good finish and is technically sound. He will work hard for the team even if he is not scoring and has the potential to play from wide if required. If he can add to his reading of the game, hehas the potential to be a very effective striker at club level.
4. After the succesful World Cup campaign, Henrique threatened to leave São Paulo, but signed a new five-year deal in August with a substantial pay-rise. At the time, he had even thought of legal-action against the club for breach of contract over his lack of playing time. However, with Luis Fabiano’s return to fitness and the rise of Ademilson, his prospects for game-time in 2012 once again look threatened and so, once more he is looking to move on.
5. At São Paulo since the age of sixteen, Henrique’s biggest progress came in a 2010 loan spell at Vítoria, when with regular action he scored four times in eleven starts and added to his glowing reputation. Of Brazil’s prospects, Henrique’s game is one of the best suited to the demands of the Premier League.
