Brazilian Captain Rafaelle Keen For More South Americans To Join Her In WSL

Rafaelle Souza, the captain of Brazil’s winning team at the Copa America Femenina, wants more of her international team-mates to join her in England to play in the Women’s Super League (WSL), which she believes is the strongest league in the world.

In contrast to the swathes of South Americans plying their trade in the men’s Premier League, the 31-year-old defender was only the third Brazilian woman to play in the top flight of the English game since the league was formed in 2011, following in the footsteps of Ester who played ten times for Chelsea in 2013 and her current international team-mate Ivana Fuso, who turned out on twelve occasions for Manchester United between 2020 and 2022.

This summer, Venezuelan star Denya Castellanos became the first South American from outside Brazil to sign for a Women’s Super League club since Christiane Endler’s short-lived spell at Chelsea in 2014 and Brazilian teenager Giovana Queiroz also joined the league, playing on loan at Everton after signing for Arsenal from Barcelona last week.

Rafaelle, who joined Arsenal in January is keen for more even players from the continent to join her in England. “I talked to some of the Brazilian players,” she told me. “They are watching what is happening here, they really enjoy this league, it’s like a dream league for them.”

“Also, for the other South Americans. They really like the league here I think. We (in England) are one of the strongest leagues in Europe, even in the world, and I’m really glad to be here. I want to bring more Brazilians, more South Americans so I can speak more Portuguese and maybe some Spanish!”

In July, Rafaelle captained Brazil at the Copa America in the absence of six-time World Player of the Year, Marta. Even without their star player, she nonetheless led them to a fourth successive title defeating hosts Colombia in the final. “I know we have won eight of the last nine Copa Americas but this time, without Cristiane, without Marta and without Formiga, it was harder I think.”

“Also, the level of the other countries in the South American continent was higher. For us, it was like a big win. A lot of people doubted us because we didn’t have those players and they didn’t believe in the new generation of the Brazilian national team. On the field, I think we showed that we are still like a good team, we still have a lot of good young players and we won the title without conceding any goals, so for me, as a captain, as a defender, it was a big achievement.”

Victory in the Copa America means Brazil will play the winners of the UEFA Women’s Euro, England, in the first-ever Finalissima, a new competition in which the European and South American champions face-off in a one-off showpiece match to be played in Europe next February.

England were captained to victory by Rafaelle’s defensive partner at Arsenal, Leah Williamson, and the Brazilian can’t wait to face her. “It’s going to be a really good game, an awesome game for us. I’m so excited for that game. I have talked to my team-mates in the national team, they are really excited about this game. Also, it’s going to be really fun to play against those guys here but I know it’s going to be a hard game for us, they’ve got a good team. With all the fans here in England, it’s going to be a tough game for us.”

After signing for Arsenal on a free transfer from Chinese side Changchun Zhuoyue in January, injury and illness restricted Rafaelle to just four league starts last season. The club also ended up trophyless after initially challenging in four competitions. Now fully fit and with a full pre-season behind her, Rafaelle is raring to go.

“I feel really great, I feel really ready now. When I got here, I came from China from a long period of holiday. I think I wasn’t ready at the beginning of the year but now I feel like we are ready, everybody is ready. I know there’s going to be a lot of games but I think we’ve got a good squad. We have been training really well. I think we’re going to be ready for the big season ahead of us.”

“I think one of the reasons that I got that injury was because I didn’t really have a real pre-season. I came in during the middle of the season and I just wanted to help the club as much as I could but unfortunately I got the injury. Now I feel like that I’m ready, I came from a good Copa America. I feel like I’m mentally prepared. It was really hard to be here the whole season and not play as much as I could. Now, I’m really excited, I’m really pumped!”

Arsenal took last season’s title race to the final day but ultimately succumbed to Chelsea, champions for the past three years. Rafaelle is undeterred by the challenge of toppling their London rivals. “I really believe in our team. We were so close last season and now we’ve got a chance to perform even better now. I know Chelsea bought a lot of players but we also got players in the beginning of the year. I’m one of them and I think we’re ready now. We also have Lina (Hurtig) now, she’s a really good player.”

After playing in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) with Houston Dash as well as her native Brazil and China, Rafaelle has now lived on four continents. Asked to assess the relative strengths of the women’s leagues she has appeared in, she is torn between two in particular.

“It’s a good question! I’m between the United States and England. I know the US have a really strong league but only with a few teams. I feel like here (in England) we have more teams that are really strong because we have players from all over Europe and all over the world so the level is really high.”

“Also, the standards of the league is really high so for a player to come and play in this league, she needs to be really good and I think this brings up the level. I’m really happy to be here, that means I can be in this league but overall I would say England because all the teams have almost the same level. From the bottom club last season to the top one, they are really good teams and I think anyone can win the league.”

She nevertheless dismisses any fears that she may not be able to adapt to the physicality of the English game. “It wasn’t hard for me, because I’m used to playing with that intensity when I’m with the national team but I think in the last six months since I came here I really learned about the league and learned about the players. This was really worth it for me because now I feel like I’m ready to go and play the games.”

“When I came here , I didn’t really have a good idea about the teams, the level or the intensity. Now I feel ready, I know all the teams, I know the atmosphere, I got to know the fans, I got to know the club. I feel like we are really ready to play and I feel comfortable and confident to play here with Arsenal now.”