Diego Bio Send To Friend  

An exceptionally talented midfielder, Diego showed himself to be one of the best players in the Bundesliga with his performances for Werder Bremen before he moved to Juventus in May 2009.

The playmaker drives his club's attacks with his impressive array of passing skills, while his passion for the game can never be called into question.

Beginning his career in Brazil with Santos, Diego was signed by the club aged 12. Blooded with the likes of Robinho in the heart of midfield, he was brought through the São Paulo team's youth system. He made his first-team debut aged just 16 and helped his side to win the Campeonato Brasileiro championship in 2002 and again in his final season.

Unable to keep hold of their blossoming talent, Santos sold him to FC Porto in 2004 for a sum of around €8m. The club claimed they were unhappy with the situation, but that they were unable to match the salary offered by the Portuguese outfit and he moved in July 2004 to the Estádio do Dragão.

Expectations were high as Jose Mourinho had just delivered Champions League and domestic success for the club and influential midfielder Deco had just moved to Barcelona. But in his first season in Portugal, Diego picked up the Portuguese Supercup and Intercontinental Cup. However, he was not able to maintain a run of games under coach Co Adriaanse the following year and spent an unhappy time on the bench.

Named in the Brazil squad for the 2004 Copa América tournament, he was a key figure for the national side and scored a vital penalty in the shootout victory over Argentina in the final. But he missed out on a call-up to the 2006 World Cup because of his lack of games.

He eventually picked up his first Portuguese title in 2006, but gradually began to realise that his future was not at the club and he moved to Werder Bremen in the summer for a fee of €6m.

Immediately establishing himself in the side, he went on to lead the side to the UEFA Cup semi-finals and the German League Cup. He finished the season with 13 goals and 13 assists, was named the Bundesliga's Player of the Season and became a key part in the plans of coach Thomas Schaaf.

2007-08 saw his good performances rewarded with a new contract until 2011 and many of Europe's elite began to take notice of his talent. Thirteen goals in 30 starts again made him a star of the Werder side and the club went one better than the previous year - finishing second in the league.

At the 2008 Olympics, he picked up a bronze medal with Brazil and has often been used as a playmaker when Kaka or Ronaldinho have not been available.

Starting the 2008-09 season in impressive fashion he sealed his reputation as one of the Bundesliga's best, netting 12 goals. Juventus were linked with a move for the Brazil international, and with the lure of the Old Lady, the midfielder moved to Turin for a fee of €24m, claiming it was his ''dream''.