ElPozo Murcia Costa Cálida has officially announced the signing of Ricardo Henrique Lemos Diniz, known as Ricardinho. The club paid Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan €85,000 to activate his release clause. At 25 years old, this Brazilian winger is seen as a future star and a key player for the team. Alongside left-handed player Cesar Velasco, Ricardinho is one of the new additions to Dani Martinez’s squad.
This Brazilian Ricardinho is distinct from the Portuguese star of the same nickname who left Spain four years ago. Unlike the left-footed Portuguese, the Brazilian is right-footed and has a different playing style. The Portuguese Ricardinho was known for his complete and spectacular play, while the new Murcia signing is a playmaker who also excels in defensive work. Both players share a deep admiration for Falcao, the Brazilian futsal legend, who mentored Ricardinho during their time together at Magnus Futsal. In a 2023 interview, Falcao praised Ricardinho, predicting he could be the next Ari in the Brazilian national team.
Ricardinho’s playing style
Ricardinho’s playing style, balancing offensive and defensive duties, makes him an ideal replacement for the recently departed Russian player, Niyazov. Falcao’s mentorship had a profound impact on Ricardinho, who moved from Potiguar (Natal) to Soracaba and eventually became an Intercontinental champion in 2019. Ricardinho expressed his excitement about joining ElPozo Murcia, stating he was eager to join his new team in Murcia.
Initially, Ricardinho joined Kairat Almaty in January as a star signing after seven seasons at Magnus Futsal. Although Palma Futsal showed interest in signing him as a replacement for Chaguinha, ElPozo Murcia managed to secure Ricardinho’s transfer. Meanwhile, ElPozo Murcia has agreed to terminate the contract of Eric Pérez, who is now set to join Tudelano Ribera Navarra. The team plans to rely on youth player Miguel Ángel Vicente until the winter transfer market, with Adri Rivera continuing his loan at Wanapix Zaragoza.
