Jucilei currently plies his trade with UAE side Al Jazira. With regulations only permitting four players from outside the Middle East in each side, the club have found a way to contract an extra foreigner on top of the four they already have.
In addition to the Brazilian Jucilei, Al Jazira currently boast Barrada (Morocco), Vucinic (Montenegro) and Pitroipa (Burkina Faso) on their books.
UAE-based newspaper The National has reported that that the club will get a Palestinian passport for Jucilei. In doing so, he will no longer count as a player from outside the Middle East, allowing them to contract another.
The player, however, seems to know little about his new country.
“To be honest, I don’t follow the news that much. I know about the war, but not much detail. I now plan to follow things a little more closely,” Jucilei told Globoesporte.com.
“The club asked if I could play as a Middle Eastern player and I agreed. It’s good for me and for the club.”
The 26-year-old made some friendly appearances for the Seleção under Mano Menezes so would still be able to represent Palestine at international level should he want to.
