Romarinho (footballer, born December 1990)

Career

Early career

Born in Palestina, a small city in the São Paulo state, Romarinho began playing in a local school at the age of five, and later had trials at Vitória and São Paulo FC, where he was unable to stay due to homesickness. He played for Rio Preto and Rio Branco-SP as a youth, making his first team debut with the latter in the 2009 Campeonato Paulista Série A2 and helping the club to achieve promotion to the Campeonato Paulista.

After leaving Rio Branco after the 2010 Paulistão, Romarinho played for Desportivo Brasil (where he was the top scorer of the club in the Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão) before being loaned to São Bernardo in 2011. After suffering relegation and featuring rarely, he was released and spent four months without a club before signing for Bragantino.

Romarinho ended the 2011 season with nine goals for Bragantino, and was named the breakthrough player of the 2012 Campeonato Paulista while at the club.

Corinthians

On 29 May 2012, Romarinho signed a four-year contract with Corinthians, after the club beat off competition from Santos for his signing. He made his club debut on 10 June, replacing Douglas late into a 2–0 away loss to Grêmio.

Romarinho was handed his first start by head coach Tite on 24 June 2012, and scored a brace in a 2–1 home win over rivals Palmeiras. Three days later, he came off the bench to score the equalizer in a 1–1 draw against Boca Juniors at the La Bombonera, for the first leg of the 2012 Copa Libertadores finals.

Romarinho was also a part of the squad which won the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup; he came on as a substitute in the semifinal against Al Ahly, but remained unused in the final against Chelsea. In the following campaign, he became an regular starter, and scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 Campeonato Paulista home win over Atlético Sorocaba on 23 March 2014.

El Jaish

On 7 September 2014, Romarinho moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining Qatar Stars League side El Jaish for a rumoured fee of around €8 million. He made his club debut six days later, starting and scored the side's second in a 3–1 home win over Al-Arabi.

Romarinho was an undisputed starter during his three-season spell at the club, scoring 21 times in two of those three years.

Al Jazira

In August 2017, Romarinho moved to UAE Pro League outfit Al Jazira on a free transfer. He played in the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup where he was the top goalscorer, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Maurício Antônio.

Al-Ittihad

On 9 August 2018, Romarinho signed a long-term contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad after the clubs agreed a fee of €7,000,000. During the 2019–20 season, he scored a career-best 26 goals in 42 appearances overall.

In the 2022–23 Saudi Pro League, Romarinho was named in the team of the season as Al-Ittihad won the club's first league title in 14 years.

Neom

On 10 June 2024, Romarinho joined Saudi First Division League club Neom on a free transfer. The following 1 February, despite scoring ten goals in just 18 appearances, he left after terminating his contract with the club.

Al-Rayyan

On 6 February 2025, Romarinho returned to Qatar after joining Al-Rayyan on a short term deal.

Career statistics

!colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |2009

Honours

Corinthians

• Copa Libertadores: 2012
• Recopa Sudamericana: 2013
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2012
• Campeonato Paulista: 2013

Jaish

• Qatar Cup: 2014, 2016

Al-Ittihad

• Saudi Pro League: 2022–23
• Saudi Super Cup: 2022

Neom

• Saudi First Division League: 2024–25

Individual

• Fans' Asian Champions League XI: 2016
• Saudi Pro League Player of the Month: September 2019, January 2022
• Saudi Pro League Team of the Year: 2022–23

References

References

1. (6 December 2023). "FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™: List of Players: Al Ittihad FC". FIFA.
2. "Romarinho". ESPN.
3. (29 June 2012). "De Palestina à Bombonera: a origem de Romarinho, novo ídolo da Fiel". Cada Minuto.
4. (28 June 2012). "Em Americana, Romarinho mantém laços e ri com apelido de Djavan". [[Terra (company).
5. (29 June 2012). "Romarinho vive em um ano desemprego, rejeição de clubes da Série B e salário de R$ 4 mil". [[Universo Online.
6. (14 May 2012). "Cobiçado por grandes, Romarinho é eleito a revelação do Paulistão". [[Grupo Globo.
7. (29 May 2012). "Corinthians vence disputa com Santos e contrata Romarinho". [[Jovem Pan]].
8. (24 June 2021). "Há nove anos, Romarinho marcou seus primeiros gols pelo Timão em Derby". SC Corinthians Paulista.
9. (13 April 2020). "Romarinho, ex-Corinthians, relata instantes que antecederam gol histórico contra o Boca Juniors". [[ESPN Brasil]].
10. (23 March 2014). "Na despedida do Paulistão, Romarinho marca três vezes e rebaixa o Atlético Sorocaba". [[Jovem Pan]].
11. (7 September 2014). "Corinthians vende Romarinho para time do Catar". Futebol Interior.
12. (13 September 2014). "Ex-Corinthians, Romarinho estreia com vitória e gol em time do Qatar". [[Universo Online.
13. (27 August 2017). "Romarinho deixa Qatar e é anunciado como reforço do Al Jazira". [[Universo Online.
14. "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 {{!}} Players - Top goals". Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
15. "نمر جديد في صفوف العميد". Al Ittihad.
16. (27 May 2023). "Al-Ittihad crowned Saudi league champions ahead of Ronaldo's Al-Nassr".
17. "نيوم ينهي التعاقد مع البرازيلي رومارينهو قادما من الاتحاد". [[Al Riyadh (newspaper).
18. (1 February 2025). "Xodó do Corinthians, Romarinho rescinde com clube árabe e fica livre no mercado". [[ESPN Brasil]].
19. (6 February 2025). "Ex-Corinthians, Romarinho tem novo time; veja o destino do atacante". [[ESPN Brasil]].
20. {{Soccerway. 112373. Romario Ricardo da Silva
21. "Romarinho".
22. "The best ACL2016 XI announced! {{!}} Football News {{!}} AFC Champions League 2020".
23. "لوشيسكو وجونز ورومارينهو يحصدون أول جوائز الأفضلية".
24. Govind. "Saudi Pro League 2022–23: Team of the Season".