Were We Conned?

[Renegade]

Some of you may remember a few months ago ICT signed Portugese winger/striker Andre Martins.  This was after a trial just after the start of the season, before hearing nothing more about him until his bizarre appearance on the bench in the 1-1 draw against Hearts a couple of months later.

 

The following Tuesday, ICT had an U20 match which I was at and Martins played in.  To be frank, he was terrible.

 

His past is a funny thing as well.  Representing Portugal a few lower levels and having spells in Venezuela, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Peru, Finland and Mexico, along with a spell with Fulham and trials at Dundee United, Morton and even Bayern Munich!  There was also talk of Dundee and Partick looking at him a few years ago.  Interestingly though, for many of these clubs he'd been punted fairly quickly, often (as in our case) failing to make an appearance, but always seeming to find a new club afterwards.

 

I was having a week look earlier to see what he was up to now and amazingly he seems to be playing top division football in Brazil with Goias!  

 

That's when I came across this article (translated into English) - 

 

http://www.futebolinterior.com.br/clube/goias-go/253570+Goiano_Goias_contrata_meia_com_passagens_pela_Selecao_Portuguesa_Sub-20

 

Goiás Goiás hires half Portuguese André Martins

The player has been accused of posing as another athlete on video

Posted on Thursday, February 7, 2013

 

 

Goiania, GO, 07 (AFI) - The Goias confirmed on Thursday, hiring the half Portuguese André Martins. The player arrives for a trial period until mid-year and will delight your bond with the club Esmeraldino. According to director of football, Marcelo insured, the player was offered to President John Bosco Luz in Portugal when he was negotiating with Porto striker Walter.

 

The 25 years is too round for international football. Even at a young age has gone through clubs like Naval, Fulham-ING, Jaguars-MEX, Vidima Rakovski-BUL, Caracas, VEN, IFK-FIN, Caracas-BOL, Syrianska-SUE, Garcilaso Real-PER-ESC and Inverness. Besides defends selection Portugal Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20. Verdão

 

The new hire's, however, comes about mistrust Goiânia.That's because, André Martins have been accused of seeking team with fake video. The player was offered to San Marcos de Arica, Chile, but noticed the difference when players arrived at the club with a different shade of hair. "We sent a video of a player who was seen to be very good. Goals made ​​and noted its quality, but upon arriving, it was not difficult to realize that the character does not look anything like the guy from the video.What arrived was red and the other much more dark, "said Carlos Ferry, president of Arica portal to Earth.

 

Is he sending people videos of the other Andre Martins who plays for Sporting Lisbon?  Is this how he seems to get club after club, despite hardly playing any matches?  Did ICT sign him up on this video?  What on Earth is an Arica Portal to Earth?!

 

Sounds to me like Mr Martins is nothing more than a hooligan touting himself to any club he can find, in search of a quick buck.  

 

This does then beg the question - Were we conned?

Edited April 3, 2013 by Renegade

[PullMyFinger]

In his defense, we bought Andrew Barrowman as a striker too.

[Sneckboy]

Showing my age here, but you've reminded me of this classic!!!

 

(copied/pasted from a sports website poll of worst ever Premiership players)

 

Clumsy, inept, awkward, embarrassing and awful. Yes Ali Dia really was a one-off, but for all the wrong reasons.

The Senegalese footballer, if you can call him that, managed to spectacularly con Southampton manager Graeme Souness into playing him in a Premier League match against Leeds United on the 23rd of November 1996.

A bogus football agent rang Souness claiming he had a Senegal international striker available called Ali Dia who was the cousin of former world footballer of the year George Weah.

Gullible Souness lapped it up and decided to give ‘Weah’s cousin’ a one month contract, handing him his Premier League debut in the match against Leeds.

Dia came on as a substitute for Matthew Le Tissier after 32 minutes, but his performance was so utterly dreadful that he was substituted in the 53rd minute.

Dia missed an open goal and was unable to control the ball.

Anyway, after being subbed by Souness, Dia unsurprisingly never played for the Saints again. He did in fact re-surface at Gateshead several months later, only to find himself woefully off the pace required at Conference standard.

[Rival]

That is interesting...