"Madrid or Barcelona would have to drag me away" - Dudu

Eduardo Pereira Rodrigues, better known as Dudu, was one of the standout players in Brazil last season, scoring 9 goals and providing 18 assists in 42 games across all competitions.

The midfielder’s enormous contribution helped Palmeiras, under former Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, to their tenth Serie A title in 2018.

As a result of his performance last season, talk linking him with a return to Europe, where he played for two and half seasons in Ukraine with Dynamo Kiev, have naturally intensified.

However, the player himself was emphatic in response to the rumours, stating he was very happy at Palmeiras – where he just recently signed a new contract to keep him at the club until 2023 – and that not even the likes of Barcelona and Madrid could tempt him away from São Paulo.

"Even if Real Madrid or Barcelona appeared, they would have to drag me away from Palmeiras,” said the player at an inauguration event for his new bar and restaurant in São Paulo.

“I have everything here, I am happy and I just need to continue demonstrating what I have done on the pitch. I know that many have the dream of living in Europe, but in Brazil it is also possible to have a good life.”

Dudu joined Palmeiras in 2015, following a spell at Gremio on loan from Kiev. Since his arrival at the Sao Paolo club, he has played 135 matches and provided 34 goals and 44 assists, averaging a goal involvement every 1.7 matches.