Bayern expect big things from Breno 10/01/2008 00:00

Bayern Munich pay 12 million euros for teenage defender Breno.

10th January 2008

Munich (dpa) - Bayern Munich have splashed out 12 million euros (17.6 million dollars) for Brazilian teenage defender Breno--more than they paid for established Italian international striker Luca Toni—but they believe it is money well spent.

"I am convinced he is going to be a great player and that Bayern will have a lot of joy with him," said coach Ottmar Hitzfeld after the first impressions of the 18-year-old this week in training.

The 1.87 metre tall defender has arrived from Sao Paulo to the Munich mid-winter, admits the cold has been a shock but says his aim is to win a place in the team as soon as possible.

"It is a bit difficult at this time of the year to come here from Brazil, but I want to find my feet here quickly and play games," he said.

"I am fighting for a place in the team. I want to win titles and be successful."

Breno, who will wear the number 35 shirt, has plenty of competition in central defence in countryman Lucio, the Argentinian Martin Demichelis and the Belgian Daniel van Buyten.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge indicated the player may have to patient. He is, he says, "a signing for the future."

Hitzfeld also said Breno would need time to adjust. "He's a young player who is now in Europe at a top club for the first time. You can sense this as well," he said.

At a training camp in Marbella, southern Spain, next week, the coach expects to get a better look at his new signing.

"We'll see how he copes against the likes of team-mates Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni," he said.

However, Hitzfeld was impressed enough by the player's positional play, heading strength and tackling in video recordings of the player.

After contacts were made via chief scout Wolfgang Dremmler at the beginning of December, the transfer was quickly sealed.

Former Bayern striker Giovane Elber also played a scouting role which led to the signing his fellow-Brazilian. Elber was greatly impressed by the youngster's performances in Brazil and could not recommend him highly enough to his old club.

"For his age he is already world class. I could hardly believe he is only 18. He has everything it takes to be a superstar," he told the Munich daily tz.