João Victor

João Victor is a Brazilian defensive midfielder who plays for RCD Mallorca. He joined the club in the summer of 2010 on a free transfer from Uzbeki outfit Bunyodkor after Mallorca were tipped off by Rivaldo.

He started his career at Náutico in 2006 before moving to São Caetano in 2008. In the early stages of his career he was a regular in the Brazilian U20 national team, in which he was regarded as one of the most talented of his age group.

Later in 2008 he joined Mogi Mirim where he caught the attentions of Brazilian legend Rivaldo. Just a year later, when Rivaldo completed his move from AEK Athens to Uzbeki side Bunyodkor, both João Victor and Ratinho made their moves to Uzbekistan too.

He had a successful year with Bunyodkor, winning the Uzbeki league title with 5 goals in 28 appearances. He did enough to convince Rivaldo that he was good enough for Spain.

In the summer of 2010, Rivaldo met with Mallorca Director of Football Llorenç Serra Ferrer in Palma. This spurred the press to believe that Rivaldo was ready to join the island club. It soon became apparent, however, that Rivaldo was meeting with Serra Ferrer, who was his boss at FC Barcelona and AEK Athens, to inform him of the talent available in Ratinho and João Victor.

Unlike Ratinho, João Victor had a positive first season at Mallorca after completing his move.

The Brazilian made himself the second choice defensive midfielder, behind veteran Pep Martí. So whenever Laudrup fielded a 4-2-3-1 rather than a 4-4-2, João Victor find himself in the XI. This allowed the Brazilian midfielder to clock up 21 starts and 9 substitute appearances in La Liga.

After Sergio Tejera dislodged him from midfield towards the end of the season, João Victor found himself at right back ahead of the only natural option in Pau Cendrós as the Spaniard’s own performance level dropped.

Under Joaquín Caparrós, João Victor struggled to hold down a place in the team. He only managed 13 appearances in the 2011/2012 season and fell out of the squad altogether towards the end of the season. It was widely believed he would leave the club in the summer, but he seemed to find his way back into the plans of the management.