Roberto Carlos is great for doing this.
The scene is set. You're lining out for your local Sunday League outfit, hoping that you'll make a good account of yourself. You've been given the nod on the right-wing.
You've played there before, so what could go wrong? All of a sudden, you see a Brazilian legend emerge from the back of a Passat. Surely it can't be? Roberto Carlos?
What's he doing here? You've got to go out there for ninety minutes against one of the best to ever do it in that position. He's 48, mind you, but he's still got enough skills to make you look silly.
Well, that exact scene will become a reality for opponents of The Bull In The Barne United in England. The Sunday League team are in for a treat in February.
The Shropshire-based club, a few hours away from Wolverhampton and Birmingham City, have landed themselves a bit of footballing royalty for their next game.
Some of The Bull in the Barne players entered an eBay 'dream transfer raffle' to acquire the services of Roberto Carlos for a chance to play alongside him.
Carlos, who retired from football after a spell in India in 2015, will be taking his talents to the Shrewsbury and District League for one match only.
Roberto Carlos scores from an insane angle against Tenerife in the Copa del Rey, 1998. pic.twitter.com/ptmhmVOLLu
— 90s Football (@90sfootball) January 28, 2022
The Locals React
"We thought he was having us on," Matthew Brown of The Bull in the Barne United told BBC Radio Shropshire. One of his teammates had entered the eBay raffle and said he had won.
"On Friday afternoon, our manager, Ed Speller, sent a message to say we won the competition and none of us believed him," the club secretary and striker continued.
"I went out on Friday night and woke up with a bit of a sore head on Saturday and I had messages from people saying 'is it true about Roberto Carlos?'"
Brown reckoned it was 'just a dream' before the reality started to kick in. A former World Cup winner and three-time Champions League trophy bearer would be coming to their club.
They immediately turned their attention to the facilities. Would their ground be good enough to host the Brazilian legend? Brown gave his assessment of their home venue.
"We play on a pitch next to Hanwood Village Hall. The changing room is proper Sunday league, pretty basic, a couple of the showers don't work," he said.
"There has been talk of moving the game somewhere else because the car park is tiny. Our usual crowd is mostly just a couple of family members."
AD | Congratulations to The Bull in The Barne United 🥳 who have won the Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos @Oficial_RC3 to play in their team @eBay_UK’s #DreamTransfer! I’ll see you there for match day pic.twitter.com/DdTfGI23Y9
— Chris Kamara (@chris_kammy) February 1, 2022
When it comes to the debut of Roberto Carlos for The Bull in the Barne, it'll be no shock that some players will have to make way for the legendary left-back.
With sacrifice comes great reward. Brown told BBC Radio Shropshire that one of the lads will be taking one for the team when the Brazilian makes his debut.
"Liam Turrall is in my opinion the best left-back in Shropshire but he's probably going to have to take one game out for us - he's a cracking player but Roberto Carlos is another level."
"I can imagine we're not going to be struggling for players for the next couple of weeks as they try to get into Ed's (the manager's) good books."
We can only imagine this will have a trickle-down effect for all those involved in the Shrewsbury and District League, as they scramble to check February's fixture list.
It'll be a fun day out for those involved. Club secretary Brown also said that they're keen to get a few pointers on free-kick taking. No better man.
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