Mauricio dos Santos Nascimento, better known as Mauricio, was born in Maua on September 20 1988. He started his football career with Palmeiras and in 2007 he was loaned to Clube de Regatas Brasil in the third tier of the Brazilian Championship. After a year he went back to Palmeiras, made 16 appearances and won the Campeonato Paulista. In 2009 he was sent away from the club for a fight in the changing rooms with Obina. Between 2010 and 2012 he played for Grêmio, Portuguesa, Vitória and Joinville, always on loan and in the second tier. In 2013, now a free agent, he signed for Sport Club do Recife and stayed a year with 21 appearances and one goal.
In June 2013 he signed for Sporting Lisbon and moved to Portugal. He played an excellent first year (31 appearances and 2 goals) and Sporting arrived second behind Benfica, hence qualifying for the Champions League. He impressed so much that in January Lazio bought him and he played his first game against Milan coming in for Stefan de Vrij. The Biancocelesti did very well, qualifying for the Champions League playoff and arriving third. The next year was not so good both for Lazio and for him personally. At the end of the season he was loaned to Spartak Moscow where he won his only championship. Spartak won the league 16 years after their last triumph.
Back at Lazio on September 17 he was re-integrated into the squad due to injuries to four central defenders. He made only one appearance before being loaned to Legia Warsaw. He made just three appearances with the Polish team but managed to win both the league and the national cup.
In October 2018 he ended his contract with Lazio and signed for the Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta’zim. In 2022 he joined Clube Náutico Capibaribe and won the Campeonato Pernambucano. In January 2023 he joined Chapecoense.
When he left Lazio he sent a message to everybody on social media.
“Every goodbye is always complicated. It's not easy to leave behind a story built with love and dedication. My journey with Lazio was marked by happy and difficult moments. Few athletes have the privilege of wearing the shirt of a football giant like that of Lazio. Few. Those who have this honour must make the most of every second in this club. I am very grateful to everyone for these years in Italy. I am grateful, in particular, to the fans who have always showered me with affection. I will miss everything: the country, the fans and the Lazio staff. I have never stopped honouring that shirt! In all the games and in all the training sessions I tried to give my best. I leave the club with my head held high and aware that I have always tried to do my best. I will always follow Lazio, even from afar! A big hug, Mauricio!”
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | Europa League |
Jan-Jun 2015 | 19 | 15 | 4 | - | - |
2015-16 | 36 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
2017-Feb 2018 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |
Total | 56 | 40 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
Sources
Comments