Ederson. Fernandinho. Gabriel Jesus. Firmino. Alex Telles. Fred.
It’s a list of names which is a real who’s-who of Brazilian Premier League talent. But you won’t find their shirts in a football hall of fame.
Instead, you can find them in an unassuming store on Chapel Street, in Salford. Mais Brasil Market specialises in produce from the South American nation.
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And that has drawn in some of the Premier League’s biggest stars, who have donated match-worn shirts for staff to fix to their walls. There’s more coming too, says Julia Batista-Litig, with Casemiro set to bring his jersey in over the summer.
Julia, 23, runs the shop with her dad, and moved to Manchester nine years ago. Originally from Espírito Santo in Brazil, she now calls the city home.
She mans the till where superstars regularly pop in - but what makes her tick?
Where’s your favourite hidden gem?
I don’t know if it’s a hidden gem, but I really like Escape To Freight Island. I like the train station, and the old and new being together. There’s a liveliness to it.
What’s your favourite view of the city or in the city?
I like Castlefield, over the other side of the bridge, and you get a nice view to Deansgate.
Where’s best to go for your dinner in town?
I like to go to Bem Brasil!
Of course! Where would you take someone to show them the real Manchester?
Northern Quarter. I love the coffee shops there, it’s a nice vibe.
What’s your favourite Mancunian neighbourhood?
That's the Northern Quarter, for the same reason. It’s like a different location.
What are the five words that best describe the city?
Alive, different, food — I think everything that happens here, it’s a lot to do with food, you have new bars or a coffee place or a restaurant. When I think of Manchester, I think of food. It’s a place to travel for food.
That’s three, what are your other two words or phrases?
Old and new architecture together, and parks. You have a lot of parks from my point of view. There’s a lot of greenery, you can cycle from one to another. I come from Brazil, and when you live in a city, you don’t have as many parks.
You only have plants and trees when you go to the rainforest, but in the city you don’t see it. That’s what I love about here.
City or United?
City.
Liam or Noel?
Noel.
Your favourite city pub is…?
Big Hands!
What’s the one change you'd make to Manchester if you could…
I would make better cycle lanes, for sure. I cycle a lot, it’s horrible to commute.
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