Renato Augusto

The footballer’s full name is Renato Soares de Oliveira Augusto. He began his career by joining the youth team of CR Flamengo, which offered the player to pen his first professional contract. Renato clinched his first title in the following season, when his team lifted the Copa do Brasil. Besides, in 2007 and 2008 Renato won the Rio de Janeiro State League. In 2007 he was on the threshold of moving to Italian side Palermo, but the deal was concluded neither with that team nor with any European clubs interested in the footballer’s talent.

However, on 10 July 2008, Bayer 04 managed to buy Renato for an undisclosed fee. His first official match came on 10 August 2008 in the DFB-Pokal against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen, where the footballer went on to net in the 69th minute and helped his team to run out victorious with a minimal advantage. In 2008 the Brazilian player took part in 33 games out of 34 and contributed only three goals. The following year Renato got a knee and shin injury and the season turned out to be ‘torn’, because the footballer came on the pitch only 17 times. However, he managed to regain his imperious shape and amassed six goals in 27 games, which helped Bayer to take second place in the Bundesliga.

Renato Augusto played for the Brazil national team at all international levels. On 9 February 2011, he made his senior début in a 0-1 loss to France. However, the footballer did not participate in the Copa América that year.