 Bernard with Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bernard Anício Caldeira Duarte[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 September 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[1] | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Shakhtar Donetsk | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–2006 | Comercial EC do Barreiro | ||
| 2006–2011 | Atlético Mineiro | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2010–2013 | Atlético Mineiro | 62 | (12) |
| 2010 | → Democrata (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2013– | Shakhtar Donetsk | 7 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2011– | Brazil | 10 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 November 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 November 2013 | |||
Bernard Anício Caldeira Duarte (born 1 September 1992), better known as Bernard, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk, as a winger.
A left-sided player, Bernard is known for his pace and energy.[2]
Contents
[hide]Club career[edit]
Bernard started his footballing career in 2006, joining Atlético Mineiro's youth system, but was released twice because of his short height.[3] In 2010, he was loaned to Democrata FC (a club which is made up entirely of Atlético Mineiro's youth players), to play in Campeonato Mineiro Third Level.[4]
After being the top goalscorer at Democrata (14 goals in only 16 games), Bernard returned to Atlético. Despite being young enough to play inCopa São Paulo de Juniores, he was called up by the manager Dorival Júnior to play for first team.[5]
He made his debut with the club in the match against Uberaba, on 23 March 2011 having to play in the right back position due to squad's injury crisis.[6][7] He then returned to youth squads, scoring the winning goal of the Taça Belo Horizonte de Juniores.
After Dorival's dimissal and the appointment of Cuca, Bernard returned to first team squad. On 21 May, he made his Série A debut, againstAtlético Paranaense.[8] In his first season, Bernard appeared 23 times for Galo (19 starts, 1794 minutes overall). On 14 September, Atlético's president Alexandre Kalil rejected a £3.4 million bid from Al Ahli Doha.
He scored his first professional goal on 29 January 2012, against Boa Esporte.[9] He then scored again against Caldense on 11 February, and twice against América-MG on 13 May, Campeonato Mineiro's final. His first Série A goal came on 23 June, in a 5–1 routing against Náutico.[10]He finished the season with 36 appearances (all starts, 3100 minutes overall), scoring eleven times, leading the club (along with Ronaldinhoand Jô) to a second place finish in the league. Bernard also won Brasileirão's Best Newcomer.[11]
In December, Spartak Moscow had an £9.8 million offer rejected by Alexandre Kalil.[12]
On 30 July 2013 Atletico Mineiro President Alexandre Kalil accepted an offer of £22 million from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk. However, the player's agent and father revealed his son has his heart set on joining FC Porto, although, Kalil revealed Shakhtar were the only club to submit an offer for the player.[13]
Shakhtar Donetsk[edit]
On 8 August 2013 Shakhtar Donetsk announced the signing of Bernard on five year deal for a reported €25 million. Bernard stated he would travel to Ukraine by private plane to look at Shakhtar's facilities and claimed no deal was in place; now he has signed a five year deal.[14] He made his debut for Ukranian side on the 31st, coming from the bench in the place of Douglas Costa, in the 1-1 draw with FC Metalist Kharkiv.[15]
International career[edit]
Bernard was called up for Brazilian national football team for the first time in 11 September 2012, to Superclásico de las Américas, by the coach Mano Menezes.[16] Bernard, however, made his debut for Brazil on November 21, 2012, in 2012 Superclásico de las Américas 2nd leg, when Seleção won the title on penalties.
