Alex began his career at Santos and was part of the Peixe’s golden generation that included the liked of Robinho, Diego and Elano. In 2004 he left the Paulista club to make the move to Europe where he signed for Chelsea but was immediately sent out on loan to PSV for three years.
Now under the command of André Villas-Boas, the 29-year old has been phased out of the Portuguese tacticians plans and at the start of the month handed in a transfer request which was accepted by the Chelsea board.
With the January transfer window now just days away, the defender has admitted he would like to return to Brazil with his first option being to re-join his former club, Santos.
”My first option will be Santos, but it depends on a lot of things. First, on a proposal from the club, it isn’t just my decision,” Alex told Terra.
”The biggest problem is that I still have a year and a half on my Chelsea contract, it will be difficult to get released. If I had less time on my contract a return to Brazil would be easier.”
Alex knows that if he was to return to Santos, he would almost certainly have to take a pay cut, but the defender insists it wouldn’t be an issue.
”I know if I go back to Brazil the salary will not be the same, it will be tough to keep it even close. But that is not an issue for me, players who go back know they will lose out financially.”
