Former Brazil youth football coordinator Erasmo Damiani was hanging out in the Sheraton hotel lobby in Quito, Ecuador, when he got a phone call late one evening in early 2017. It was Lucca Bertolucci, son of Giuliano Bertolucci, Brazil's most influential football agent and an associate of the controversial Kia Joorabchian.
The South American U20 Championship was being held in Ecuador in early 2017 and had attracted scouts from everywhere.
Bertolucci had Ajax representatives with him and wanted to check if they could speak to Brazil's wing wizard Richarlison. Damiani was reluctant.
"As much as we tried to avoid these situations, it's up to the athlete in the end.