Born 15th march 1989 in the small Brazilian municipality of Riachinho, Sandro Ranieri Guimarães Cordeiro moved through the youth ranks of Internacional until he was part of the first team, who are notorious for producing bright young stars. After Harry Redknapp secured a type of feeder agreement with the club, Sandro joined Tottenham a week after winning the 2010 Copa Libertadores with Interacional (the South American equivalent of the Champions League).
Sandro joined Spurs for approximately £6.5 million, and quickly secured his place in his team as one of the hottest Premier League prospects of his position. Standing at 6ft 2in, and built with both speed and power, he made regular substitute appearances throughout Harry Redknapp’s reign, along with first-team starts. He was a pivotal figure in Tottenham’s epic Champions League double victory over AC Milan, winning man of the match in the 0-0 home leg that secured Tottenham’s advance into the next round.
In the late stages of the 2011/12 season, when Spurs were struggling with immensely poor form, he along with Aaron Lennon were possibly the only two players in the team that performed well. Covering for the injured Scott Parker, he actually ended up performing better than the reputable English fighter. Compared stat-for-stat, Sandro should far and away be Spurs’s first choice, and it’s highly likely he’ll be seeing more game time next year.
Andre Villas-Boas is constantly looking to replace ageing players with feisty youngsters, and Sandro fits the bill perfectly. Under contract with Tottenham until 2016, by the time Scott Parker’s top flight career comes to an end in three, maybe four years, Sandro will be able to establish himself as a top midfielder at a top club. Providing AVB’s plans come to fruition of course.
