Porto Feliz — Arriving in Brazil, Chinese footballer Long Yushuo took on the more easily pronounced name Thomas, but it is the locals’ skills with the ball that he is really hoping to adopt. Sixteen-year-old Thomas is one of a squad of youth players from Chinese team Shandong Luneng dispatched to polish their game at Desportivo Brasil club in Porto Feliz, near Sao Paulo, which Shandong bought in 2014. The idea is that the 36,000km round trip will enable these youngsters to bring back something that all the money and desire in China’s burgeoning football scene cannot otherwise get — Brazilian footballing magic. When Thomas and another 22 players from the under-16 side arrived from Jinan, capital of Shandong province, in April, they knew little of Brazil. Along with football practice, they study Portuguese in the quiet town of 50,000 people. But Thomas, who picked his name in honor of Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller, is clear about what his principal lesson has been in Porto Feliz. "Tec...
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