Maicon (part 2)

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5 Apr 2024

Maicon (part 2)

Maicon's time at Manchester City proved to be challenging, as he struggled to establish himself in the team due to a combination of injuries and strong competition for the right-back position. Despite signing for the club in a £3 million transfer deal on 31 August 2012, Maicon found it difficult to make an impact on the pitch.
He made his debut for Manchester City on 15 September 2012, in a 1–1 draw against Stoke City. However, injuries hampered his progress throughout the season, limiting his opportunities to showcase his abilities. Even when he was fit, Maicon faced stiff competition from established right-backs such as Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards, making it challenging for him to secure a regular spot in the starting lineup.

As a result, Maicon often found himself on the sidelines and struggled to even make the substitutes' bench for matches. With the arrival of a new manager, Manuel Pellegrini, at the end of the season, Maicon's future at the club became uncertain. Pellegrini made it clear that Maicon was not part of his plans for the upcoming season, omitting him from the club's pre-season tour and indicating that he would not be included in the squad moving forward.
Ultimately, Maicon's time at Manchester City was marked by disappointment and a lack of playing time, leading to his departure from the club after just one season.

After his stint with Manchester City, Maicon returned to Serie A, joining AS Roma on a free transfer. The move was officially announced on his 32nd birthday, 26 July 2013, with Maicon signing a two-year deal with the club.
Under the management of Rudi Garcia, Roma enjoyed a strong start to the 2013–14 season, winning their first ten Serie A games. Maicon, wearing the squad number 13, made his competitive debut for Roma on 25 August in a 0–2 away win against Livorno, playing the full 90 minutes.

However, Maicon faced setbacks due to injuries during his time at Roma. On 25 September, during a match against Sampdoria, he suffered a muscular injury and was substituted in the 35th minute. Despite the setback, Maicon returned to action for Roma's league match against Napoli, helping the team secure a 2–0 home victory.
Maicon scored his first goal for Roma on 8 December 2013, in a 2–1 home win against Fiorentina, which ended the team's streak of four consecutive draws. He continued to contribute to Roma's campaign, scoring his second goal of the season in a 4–0 home win against Genoa on New Year's Day in 2014.

In the Coppa Italia, Maicon made his debut for Roma in the quarter-final against Juventus, helping the team secure a 1–0 home win and advance to the semi-final.
Recognizing his contributions, Roma extended Maicon's contract on 13 October 2014, keeping him at the Stadio Olimpico until June 2016. Despite facing challenges with injuries, Maicon remained a valuable member of the Roma squad during his time at the club.
Maicon made a return to Brazilian football by signing with Avaí on a one-year contract. This move marked his return to Brazilian football after 13 years, having left Cruzeiro for AS Monaco in 2004. Despite training with Botafogo for a few weeks, Maicon ultimately chose to join Avaí, a club based in Santa Catarina.
Unfortunately, Maicon's stint with Avaí was short-lived, and the club faced relegation to Série B at the end of the season. In December 2017, Maicon announced his retirement from professional football after spending just one season with Avaí.

Maicon announced that he had signed a one-year contract with Série B side Criciúma. One of the reasons Maicon cited for his return to football was his son, as well as his previous history with the club as a youth player. This marked another chapter in Maicon's football journey, returning to his roots and rejoining a club where he had started his career at the youth level.
After representing Brazil's under-20 team at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship, Maicon made his senior international debut in the team's opening game of the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Mexico on 12 July 2003. His impressive performances led to him being named in the team of the tournament as Brazil finished as runner-up.

Maicon went on to become the first-choice right-back for the Seleção, enjoying success at major tournaments. He won the Copa América in 2004 and 2007, as well as the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2005 and 2009. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he made his tournament debut and scored in Brazil's 2–1 win over North Korea.
During the 2014 World Cup, Maicon was selected in Brazil's squad. He replaced Dani Alves as the team's starting right-back for the quarter-final win against Colombia and remained in the starting lineup for the remainder of the tournament.
However, on 7 September 2014, Maicon was dismissed from the Brazil squad due to an unspecified "internal problem".

Due to his exceptional work rate and stamina, Maicon was known for his ability to contribute both offensively and defensively. He was versatile enough to play as a traditional full-back or in more advanced roles as an attacking wing-back or wide midfielder. Blessed with outstanding physical attributes, athleticism, and technical skills, Maicon possessed excellent vision, crossing ability, and a powerful shot, making him a potent attacking threat down the right flank during his prime.
His success, combined with his strength, pace, and power, earned him the nickname "Il Colosso" during his tenure at Inter Milan. At Inter, he developed into one of the best attacking full-backs globally, forming a formidable partnership with teammate Javier Zanetti. Maicon joined Sammarinese club Tre Penne. During his brief stint at the club, he made two appearances in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round.